John W. Duarte on Barth... In the evenings at the Cannington International Guitar Festival and Summer School, jazz was always a part of the social activity, and one in which Frode Barth played a remarkable and distinguished part when he attended in 1989. It was clear then, that a creative musical mind such as his could be directed toward serious composition, and this has proved to be the case. His approach is clear: "I have experienced real love - it's powerful and can touch people deeply; I'm not afraid of the sentimental moods that most people avoid. Why are people more afraid of love than of violence? I want to give as much love as possible - can there ever be too much? I know, though, that too much sentimentality is bad in art. There is a lot of humour in my music. Can you imagine a world without humour and funny people? Humour is perhaps the most important and serious thing. I love good melodic lines; I'm not afraid of simple music, beautiful and natural harmonic structures, things that many contemporary composers eschew. I am an enthusiastic improviser and I want to keep this spontaneity in my music - I always try to make it swing." I fully endorse and share these feelings; we come from similar backgrounds. This, the first recording of his works, should be welcomed by everyone who cares for these things. I quote his own words where possible; it is illuminating to know how a composer sees his own work. John W. Duarte Arnos Grove, London 14. January, 1997 The Works of Frode Barth Frode Barth (1968) has written more than 200 works that are registered in TONO (The Norwegian Performing Right Organisation). Barth's list of works includes music for the stage, classical music, jazz, pop / rock and film. A selection of works are available through the Norwegian Music Information Centre: Music Information Centre Norway P.O. Box 2674 Solli N-0203 Oslo Tel: +47 2327 6300 Fax: +47 2327 6301 info@mic.no Web: http://www.mic.no/english Member of IAMIC, International Association of Music Information Centres. Here follows a list of Frode Barth's more serious works, and details as to where these have been executed. Opus 1 "2 TALL" (1987) for guitars, fretles-bass and drums First performed at NRK radio, Østlandsendingen, 1987 Opus 2 "CANNINGTON SUNSET" (1989) Fanfare for two guitars First performed at Cannington Guitar Summer school, England 12. August, 1989 (Available through NMI) Opus 3 "LANGT BORTE" / Petite suite (1990) Suite for guitar solo (Written for Neil Smith) First performed at the Eivind Groven Institute 22. March 1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 4 "A MENUE OF FRUIT" (1990) Suite for flute and harp Written for the Festival of North-Norway (Available through NMI) Opus 5 "EXSTASIS" (1991) for Mezzo-soprano, violin,viola, violoncello, guitar, contrabass and percussion. Lyrics: Frode Barth (1968-) First performed at NRK Television "U" 10. April, 1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 6 "SONGEN TIL HAN SOM ER KOMEN IGJENOM" / Song of a Man Who has Come Through (1991) for mezzo-soprano and guitar Lyrics: D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) Rewritten in Norwegian by Olav H. Hauge (1908-1994) First performed at Eivind Groven Institute 22. March,1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 7 "THE CURE" (1992) Suite for flute/recorder and guitar (Written for John Turner and Neil Smith) First performed at the Eivind Groven Institute 22. March, 1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 8 "DEN ONDE DRONNING" / The Evil Queen (1992) for mezzo-soprano and guitar Lyrics: Inger Hagerup (1905-1985) First performed at the Eivind Groven Institute 22. March, 1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 9 "FANFARE TIL KULTURFESTIVALEN KREFTER" (1992) for 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, snare drum and cymbals. First performed at Månefisken Art Centere 19. June, 1992 (Available through NMI) Opus 10 "DANZA DANZE" (1992) for jazz-vocal, tenor, guitar and percussion Soundtrack of the film "Carpe Diem Hermansen" Directed by Kristin S. Buflod Opening première at Grimstad shortfilm Festival 1992 Opus 11 "FRAGMENTS OF DIPLOMA" (1992) for Brass quintet (2 trumpets, trombone, horn and tuba) (Request from The National Collage of Art and Design, Oslo, Norway) First performed at Oslos Museum of Applied Art 2. January,1993 (Available through NMI) Opus 12 "CUMULUS" (1993) Sonata for guitar and hammerklavier (Request from the Institute of Fine Tuning) Financed by support from the Norwegian Composers Fund First performed at the Eivind Groven Institute, 3. October,1993 (Available through NMI) Opus 13 "DONNA INFERNALE" (1993) for chamber orchestra (Financed by support from the Norwegian Composers Support-Fund) Opus 14 "STEPP DANCE" (1993) for organ solo (Request from Eilert M. Hægeland) Opus 15 "I SKYGGEN AV ET BREV" / In the shadow of a letter (1993) for organ solo Soundtrack on a shortfilm Produced by Oslo Film school Directed by Unni Parta Puoli Opus 16 "DANS PÅ STRENGER" (1993) for classical guitar, electric guitar, synth guitar and drum machine A ballet produced by Rikskonsertene Directed by Gunnhild Bjørnsgaard Choreography: Heidi Grande and Kristin Næsj First performed in Trondheim 1993 (Tour in North Trøndelag county '93, Troms county '94 and South Trøndelag '95 Opus 17 "ONE FREAK TO EXIST" (1994) Suite for flute and guitar First performed at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo, 8. Mai,1994 (Available through NMI) Opus 18 "SKUM" (1994) for vokal, guitar, synth-guitar, synthesizer and drum machine Lyrics: Fedra by Rachines Theatre performance produced by Theatre Tangoo Directed by Marianne Apenes Premiere at Black Box 25. mai 1994 Opus 19 "EN UTSTRAKT HÅND" /An Outstretched Hand (1994) for mezzo-soprano and guitar Lyrics: Unni J. Cacace (1954- ) First performed at Høvikodden Art Center 17. April,1994 (Available through NMI) Opus 20 "HÅPET" / The Hope (1994) for Mezzo-soprano, flute and guitar Lyrics: Øystein Wingaard Wolf (1959- ) First performed at Høvikodden Art Center 17. April 1994 (Available through NMI) Opus 21 "DITT SMIL ER SAKTE PÅ VEG" /Your Smile is Slowly Coming (1994) for Mezzo-soprano and guitar Lyrics: Kjartan Fløgstad (1944- ) Financed by support from Gyldendal Norsk Forlag A/S Unofficial pre-première at Gyldendal, Oslo, 1994 (Available through NMI) Opus 22 "EGENTLIG" (1994) for vocals, narrator, trumpet, guitars, synthesizers, bass, drums and percussion Lyrics: Trond Bjertnes (1972- ) Documentary on the poet Trond Bjertnes Produced by "U" NRK Television Directed by Ole Andreas Holen Broadcast for the first time15. September,1994 Opus 23 "THE FIRST SUNRISE" (1995) for electric guitar, synth guitar, percussion, mezzo-soprano and choir. Lyrics: Stein Holte (1958- ) (Request from Rikskonsertene) Financed by support from Rikskonsertene First performed in Bærum, January 1995. Tour in Akershus county '95, Oslo '96 and Buskerud county '97 Opus 24 "NORDIC TRAIN" (1995) for vocals, rap, trumpet, guitars, samples, bass, synthesizer, drums and percussion. Produced and ordered by Eureka film and TV Directed by Ole Andreas Holen Broadcast for the first time by NRK Television "U" 30. August,1995 Also Broadcast in Sweeden, Denmark, Finnland and Iceland. Opus 25 "PIETA" (1995) for three male and three female voices Commercial spot for The Tique Magazine Produced by Viscom film and TV Directed by Trond Berg-Nilssen Première in Norwegian Cinemas, March, 1995 Opus 26 "BLOMST" (1995) for three male and three female voices Commercial spot for The Tique Magazine Produced by Viscom film and TV Directed by Trond Berg-Nilssen Première in Norwegian Cinemas, March, 1995 Opus 27 "HJELP" / Help (1995) Double consert for electric and acoustic bands for vocal, guitars, bass, drums and percussion Lyrics: Stein Holte (1958- ) Produced by Rikskonsertene First performed in Kristiansund 1995 (Tour in Møre and Romsdal County (-95) and Sogn- and Fjordane County (-96). Opus 28 "ALF" (1995) for guitars, contrabass, drums and percussion Sountrack for the short film "ALF" Produced by Multi-Cultural Film and TV Center, Oslo Directed by Øystein Abildsnes Opus 29 "FRA TÆRNE" (1996) for classical guitar, electric guitar and sound collage A croquis performance with Kristin Søbstad Lyrics: Erling Kittelsen (1946- ) Produced by Primadonna Directed by Morten Faldaas First performed at the House of the Architects, Oslo, 10. June, 1996 Opus 30 "THE WOMAN BEHIND" (1996) Guitar duo (Written to Dorothy Duarte) Financed by support from Norwegian Cassette Tax Fund (Available through NMI) Opus 31 "BLOW THIS" (1993-97) Five compositions for solo flute (Available through NMI) Opus 32 "TRICKY FINGER" (1997) 12 études for klassical guitar (Available through NMI) Opus 33 "ÅNDSFYRSTEN" (1997) For vocal, narrator, trumpet, guitars, keyboards, bass and drums Music for a TV documentary about the poet and psychiatric patient Trond Bjertnes (1972- ) Produced by Speranza Film A/S Directed by Ole Andreas Holen Broadcast for the first time on TV2 Television, 20. October, 1997 Opus 34 "ENCORE" (1997) Sonata for clarinet and piano (Request from Øyvind Aase) (Available through NMI) Opus 35 "INGEN Å KYSSE" (1997/98) for prepared electric guitar, Musical box, loops, wash tube and sound collage A performance with Kristin Søbstad Lyrics: Erling Kittelsen (1946- ) Produced by Prima Donna Directed by Preben Faye-Schjøll First performed at Kittelsens, Oslo, 14. November, 1996