‘I think we're talking about recognizing the things that are bigger than us and the things that are unknowable in in the universe.’ Raven Chacon is an artist, composer and musician born in the Navajo Nation.
In this episode Rob Young meets Raven while he was in Oslo in September 2024. He talks about the thinking behind his performance work Tremble Staves (2017–19), which was a highlight of the Ultima Festival.
Iselin Shumba gives exclusive readings from Sarah Zahid’s powerful poetic text, created as an element of the Oslo performance.
Written and presented by Rob Young
Readings of Sarah Zahid by Iselin Shumba
Editing by Solveig Sørbø
Theme music by Kristine Tjøgersen
Raven Chacon: https://spiderwebsinthesky.com
Ultima Festival: https://www.ultima.no/
A special micropod audioguide to the opening concert of Ultima 2024. Sound artists Chris Watson and Jana Winderen tell Rob Young about their commissioned piece fathom, a symphony of field recordings captured above and below the Norwegian Sea between Oslo and the mysterious Jan Mayen Island.
Writer, interviewer, presenter: Rob Young
Editor: Solveig Sørbø
Rob Young travels with Maja S.K. Ratkje and Paola Palavidi as they prepare to launch Pytheas Travels, a musical/visual cocktail of surreal maritime experiences connecting ancient exploration with modern tourism.
For more info, see https://www.ultima.no/en/pytheas-travels Ultima Festival 14–23 September 2023: ultima.no
Recorded and presented by: Rob Young
Sound editing: Silje Vemøy
Sound mix: Ådne Hallas at Filt Oslo
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Thanks to Maja S.K. Ratkje and Hypercomf for permission to include sound clips from Pytheas Travels.
Rob Young discusses the music and legacy of German band Einstürzende Neubauten with Chris Bohn – Editor in Chief of The Wire magazine. As a music journalist with the New Musical Express in the early 1980s, Chris was the first British writer to interview and champion the group, whose name means 'collapsing new buildings'. In this conversation recorded live at Kulturhuset, Oslo, during the 2022 Ultima Festival, he shares inside stories from the group's history, apocalyptic sound, and the Cold War Berlin where they were formed.
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
In a live conversation recorded during this year's Ultima Festival, Rob Young meets New York based composer Missy Mazzoli – 'Brooklyn's post-millennial Mozart' – Time Out NY) to hear about the ideas that inspired her new opera The Listeners. We also hear about her previous work with her band Victoire and her earlier acclaimed operas, with librettist Royce Vavrek and director Lileana Blaine-Cruz.
https://missymazzoli.com
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September. The theme of this year’s festival – Freedom is Around the Corner – comes from an artwork by the late Danish artist/agitator Henning Christiansen. Rob Young explores this idea and its relevance to contemporary music and modern day utopian and dystopian thinking. Episode features interviews with Lena Lindgren (author of Ekko) and Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (artistic director of Ultima).
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: full programme at ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Also featuring extracts from: 180 Hammer Blows Against War Monkeys by Henning Christiansen
Ultima 2022 opens on 15 September with a performance of Oresteia by Iannis Xenakis. Rob Young meets bass baritone Seth Carico and percussionists Håkon Stene and Thomas Nilsson during a rehearsal for the 'Kassandra' section of this monumental vocal work. For more info on the free concert at Oslo City Hall (Rådhus) on 15.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/opening-concert
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Rob Young meets Siv Øyunn Kjenstad to hear about preparations for her new Ultima Festival commission, 'Aspects'. Drummer, vocalist, composer, producer, actor – Siv Øyunn is a true omni-musician. For more info on her concert at MUNCH on 21.9.22, go to: https://www.ultima.no/en/oyunn-aspects
This episode features extracts from the unreleased tracks 'I Know You Can Do It' and 'Wanna Talk to You' by Øyunn. Used with permission. www.sivoyunn.com Instagram: @oyunn
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Rob Young meets Jan Martin Smørdal, winner of the Arne Nordheim Composer Prize 2022. Jan Martin's music is partly inspired by natural flocking movements and musical memories. He talks about his reaction to the award and gives us a peek into his creative process. Additional input by Ultima Director Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen and composer Kristine Tjøgersen.
The portrait concert of Jan Martin's music is on 16 September 2022 at MUNCH, Oslo. https://www.ultima.no/en/arne-nordheim-prize-concert-portrait-jan-martin-smordal
http://smordal.no
Music heard in the programme used by permission.
1. My Favorite Thing 3 – I.
2. flock foam fume
3. Flock of Me
4. (herd)STUDY
5. My Favorite Thing 2 (for 9 musicians)
2 from the album Flock by Karen Hellqvist (LAWO Records), , on Spotify and CD
4 from the album Xtended Hearts and Unheard Herds by Ensemble Ernst (LAWO Records), on Spotify and CD
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Rob Young meets composer, improvisor and organist Nils Henrik Asheim. Nils Henrik talks through his forthcoming Organotopia project, to be performed at Ultima Festival, Oslo, on 17 September 2022. Reinventing the organ at an audio-visual public art project taking over a church and park in central Oslo.
Organotopia: organotopia.no
Ultima Festival 15–24 September 2022: ultima.no
Presenter: Rob Young
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo
Sound mix: Daniel Daatland
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
Composer and santur player Javid Afsari Rad talks about 'Bigah', his work for the NOWOR orchestra, an Oslo based collaboration between musicians from many different backgrounds and music traditions.. For more info: https://ultima.no/en/events/721cd2a5-6d40-4faf-b06d-7d3361003e1e
Presenter: Rob Young
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo.
The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
At a mountain hotel outside Oslo, artist and composer Marianne Stranger is setting up an immersive sound installation called Vannverk (Waterwork), which includes audience members floating in the outdoor pool in large transparent inflatable bubbles. In this sound portrait she talks to Rob Young about the project and we hear extracts of the accompanying music. For more info: https://www.mariannestranger.net
Presenter: Rob Young
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo.
The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
We meet Carmen Villain in her studio in central Oslo to talk about the revival of interest in Ambient music and her own production techniques.
Presenter: Rob Young
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo.
The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
Jennifer Torrence, percussionist with Oslo based group Pinquins, talks about preparing to perform 100 Cymbals, a new work by the Japanese composer Ryoji Ikeda. The full group performing on 22.9.21 (https://ultima.no/en/events/1eecc959-1227-4bc1-8c2c-2324ebebc0e4) consists of: Michaela Antalová, Johanne Byhring, Sigrun Gomnæs, Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen, Nasra (Nasra Ali Omar), Ylva Bråten Rian, Matilda Rolfsson, Sanskriti Shrestha, Nora Sjøgren, Jennifer Torrence. Direction: Alexandre Babel.
Presenter: Rob Young
Original music: Kristine Tjøgersen
Producer: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen @ Filt Oslo.
The Ultima Context Podcast is a production of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Find out more at ultima.no
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
Black Lives Matter, corrupt and incompetent governments, environmental disaster and COVID-19 have all been the triggers for public protests in 2020. How is contemporary music keeping pace with these radical movements? Can music still shake the walls down? Hanan Benammar and Sara Baban criticise power structures in performances pieces like the controversial Ways of Seeing in Oslo. Here they talk to Rob Young about racism and truth telling. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
How can writers and editors make contemporary music accessible and exciting? As a critic of modern music, who are you writing for - those in the low, or fresh pairs of ears? Where is the line between complexity and simplification? We hear from Eystein Sandvik, Synne Skouen, Jørgen Karlstrøm and Anne Hilde Neset. Hosted by Guro Kleveland from Ballade magazine. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020. The conversation is in Norwegian.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
New music is often expected to be serious, difficult and austere, but plenty of younger emerging composers and performers are turning that image around. What place is there for comedy, irony, self-mockery and awkwardness in today’s cutting edge music? We find out with composer Trond Reinholdtsen, percussionist Jennifer Torrence and composer Manos Tsangaris. Hosted by Rob Young. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
Today’s contemporary music scene likes to boast about how diverse it has become. But is it really more inclusive than before? How can cultural gatekeepers properly incorporate sounds and artists from outside the western classical tradition? A conversation between Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen, Cliff Moustache, Sandeep Baghwati and Sandra Marja West. Hosted by Siri Haugan Holden. Recorded live during Ultima Festival 2020.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Ultima Context - the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music. This episode features a discussion recorded on the opening night of this year’s Ultima Festival on 10 September 2020. Festival Director Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen, musician Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen and composer Sandeep Baghwati explain how the coronavirus has affected everything about how they plan, work and collaborate. Presenter: Rob Young.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Ultima Context – the podcast that takes you deeper into the world of contemporary and experimental music.
In a sound portrait recorded in Oslo, Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen meets Jennifer Torrence and Sigrun Rogstad Gomnæs from the contemporary music trio Pinquins as they prepare to premiere three exciting new works under the title ‘Music and Health’ (13 September). We’ll hear about mental wellbeing, the openness of the Norwegian music scene, and just how far they will go in the pursuit of telling a story through music.
Produced by Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival. Editors: Thorbjørn Tønder Hansen (in-Chief), Torunn Forland and Rob Young. Co-produced by Filt Oslo: Regine Døsen Kristoffersen, Peter Daatland. Jingles composed by Kristine Tjøgersen. Supported by Music Norway, Norsk Komponistforening, TONO and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.