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About the Program
This autumn, BrassUnit invites you to a musical exhibition with the program “Exhibitionist at the Pictures”– a vibrant encounter between classical and newly composed music.
The audience will wander through a living art gallery, where each piece opens a new door and offers a unique sound world. The centerpiece of the program is David Björkman’s work “An Exhibitionist at the Pictures”, which portrays five characters from some of Quentin Tarantino’s most iconic films.
Read more about the full program below!
Aaron Copland“Brides Solo” ur Appalachian Spring
Aaron Copland’s ballet Appalachian Spring(1944) is one of the most beloved works in American musical history. The piece depicts life, love, and hope for the future in young America, centered around a pioneering family.
The “Bride’s Solo” is one of the work’s most intimate and heartfelt sections. Here, we encounter the bride in a quiet moment of reflection, filled with anticipation and vulnerability as she faces her new life. The music is lyrical and sparse, with simple yet expressive melodies conveying innocence and gentle warmth. Copland’s characteristic open harmonies give the music a spaciousness that reflects both the vast American landscapes and the inner emotional world of a person on the threshold of a new existence.
David BjörkmanAn Exhibitionist at the Pictures
David Björkman is a Swedish composer and conductor who often combines playfulness, irony, and cinematic references in his music. An Exhibitionist at the Picturesis a suite in five movements that serves as a tribute to Quentin Tarantino’s film universe. Here, we follow a theatrical figure wandering through an imaginary art gallery, where each “room” represents an iconic Tarantino character. The result is a colorful musical journey, full of contrasts, humor, and dramatic tension.
Movements:
Jules– Intense and rhetorically charged, with rhythmic energy and a sense of unpredictable charisma. (Pulp Fiction)
Hand Landa– Dark, elegant, and suggestive, with a slowly building threatening calm. (Inglourious Basterds)
Mr Blonde– Ironic and edgy, with explosive rhythmic outbursts and dark humor. (Reservoir Dogs)
Rick Dalton– Nostalgic and dramatic at the same time, a blend of fragility and grandiose pose. (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
The Bride– Intense, determined, and bursting with energy – a musical vendetta culminating in triumph. (Kill Bill)
Leonard Bernstein West Side Story Suite
Leonard Bernstein’s musical West Side Storyis one of the most beloved musicals and is performed continuously around the world. The musical is inspired by Romeo and Julietand is set in 1950s New York. It depicts the ongoing conflict between two gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, where Tony and Maria, two young people from opposing sides, find the love of their lives.
The West Side Story Suite, arranged by Jack Gale, features a selection of music from the musical, including “Maria,” “Tonight,” and “Somewhere.”
Oskar Björkman Shattered Plains
Shattered Plainsis a newly composed work by the Swedish composer Oskar Björkman, inspired by Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archives. The music reflects the dramatic, expansive world of vast plains, fractured landscapes, and powerful conflicts, with rich tonal colors and dynamic rhythms. Björkman explores both the tension of heroism and the more intimate, human emotions of the series’ characters, moving between lyricism, drama, and epic, cinematic scenes.
The work offers both the force of storms and moments of quiet reflection, taking the audience on a journey through a fantasy world where natural forces, conflicts, and courage intertwine in a vibrant musical universe.
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Maurice Ravel - Ma mère l’Oye Suite
Maurice Ravel originally composed Ma mère l’Oyefor piano four hands in 1910–1911 and later orchestrated it into a shimmering orchestral suite. The work is based on classic French fairy tales and portrays a magical, dreamlike world full of charm, humor, and poetic sensitivity. Ravel uses rich tonal colors, impressionistic harmonies, and subtle rhythmic nuances to create vivid musical imagery.
Movements:
Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty– Gentle, lyrical, and softly dreamlike, a tribute to the sleeping princess.
Hop-o’-My-Thumb– Playful and narrative, with rhythmic surprises depicting the clever little boy.
Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas– Elegant with an oriental color, featuring sparkling and ornamented textures.
The Conversation of Beauty and the Beast– Soft and lyrical, contrasting gentleness with dramatic moments.
The Fairy Garden– Lively and shimmering, full of sparkling energy and fairy-tale fantasy.
Tielman Susato Susato Suite
Tielman Susato (c. 1510–1570) was a Flemish composer and publisher of the Renaissance, renowned for his lively dance music. The Susato Suiteis a collection of dances that capture the joy and rhythmic energy characteristic of 16th-century festive music. With fresh melodies, clear rhythms, and charming variations, each movement offers a glimpse into the musical elegance and celebratory atmosphere of the Renaissance.
Movements (typical dance forms in a Susato suite):
Pavane– A slow and solemn dance with gentle, dignified steps.
Galliard– Faster, lively, and rhythmic, featuring playful jumps and turns.
Bransle– Energetic and social, often with repeating rhythms that invite the audience to dance.
Saltarello– Bouncy and exuberant, with joyful rhythmic leaps.
Tordion or Allemande– A closing dance with balanced elegance and smoothly flowing movements.
The suite provides a colorful insight into Renaissance musical life and offers a musical celebration full of charm and rhythmic precision.
Jan Koetsier Brass Quintet
Jan Koetsier (1911–2006) was a Dutch composer, conductor, and trombonist known for music with clear melodies, rhythmic energy, and elegance. His Brass Quintetis a colorful and virtuosic work for brass ensemble, giving each instrument the opportunity to shine both as a soloist and in ensemble. The piece combines lyrical, singable melodies with playful rhythmic figures and harmonic surprises, creating a balance between lightheartedness, elegance, and musical tension.
Brass Quintetshowcases Koetsier’s ability to write music that is both accessible to audiences and technically challenging, offering an energetic and expressive concert experience.
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