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Jostein Stalheim was born in Voss, Norway in 1960. He started composing at an early age and in 1977, when only 17 years old, his first works were broadcast on both radio and television. He has studied composition and accordion at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen and at the Norwegian State Academy of Music.
While still a student larger works such as "Hydra" and "Det rode snoballtreet" were performed. "Gaps" for accordion and percussion was performed at the official opening of the Norwegian State Academy of Music’s new building in 1989.
Stalheim has become increasingly occupied with the element of movement in music. His later works often have as their point of departure physical direction or distance. His string quartet "To- tve-tvil" is concerned with a person in doubt. The title is related to the Old Norwegian word "tvisyn", which means the ability to view any situation from two sides; for example, both the comical and tragical aspects of life. In this string quartet Stalheim attempts to find a particular direction where the listener is positioned in the focal point between that which is expressed and that which is implied.
"Inside" is another example of his incorporation of the physical element in his music. Here he seeks to direct light towards friction and insight, distance and approach, by placing emphasis on depth within the dynamic apportioning of space. In his "A-AB-ABS" movement is also a central element, where the idiomatic aspect of the instruments themselves is his point of departure.
Ballet music comprises a considerable part of his production; a.o. "Sakk 4", "Alrekr" and "Kast". He has also worked in theatre both as composer and musician, amongst others, the Royal Theatre and Jytte Abildstroms teater in Copenhagen, Teater tribonda, Cristal opera, Hordaland Teater, Bergen komediateater, Den Nationale Scene and Danseteatret.
Jostein Stalheim has received commissions from ensembles both in Norway and abroad. On several occasions Stalheim has been guest composer in Spain, Poland and Romania.
Stalheim is internationally recognized as an accordion soloist and has performed on the BBC- TV, NRK-TV, the Video Festival in Cannes-85 and with several international orchestras. He has received several grants, including Statens Etableringsstipend, a grant for the establishing of emerging artists. Stalheim has been chairman of the Composer Group in Ny Musikk, and is actively engaged in Ny Musikk’s concert activities. He is now producer for NorConcert (The Concert Institute of Norway) and has also produced a number of CD’s.
(Translation: Howard Gamble, November 1995.)
[in Norwegian]
Jostein Stalheim, fodt pa Voss i 1960, starta tidleg a skriva musikk. Han fekk framfort sine forste komposisjonar i radio og fjensyn allerede som 17-aring. Han har studert komposisjon og akkordeon ved Det kgl. danske Musikkonservatorium og Norges Musikkhogskole.
Under studietiden fekk Stalheim framfort storre verk som "Hydra" og "Det rode snoballtreet". "Gaps" for akkordeon og slagverk vart framfort ved opninga av Norges Musikkhogskoles nybygg i 1989.
Stalheim er blitt stadig mer opptatt av rorsle-elementet i musikk. Hans seinare verk er ofte skrevet med utgangspunkt i ei fysisk retning eller avstand. Strykekvartetten "To-tve-tvil" tek t.d. for seg ein person som kjem i tvil. Tittelen viser til det norrone ordet "tvisyn" som uttrykkjer ei evne til a sja ei sak fra to sider; t.d. det tragiske og det komiske ved livet. Stalheim prover i strykekvartetten a finne ei slik retning ved at lyttaren star i skjaeringspunktet mellom det uttalte og uuttalte.
"Inside" er eit anna dome pa integrering av fysiske element i musikken. Her sokjer han a retta ljoset pa friksjon og innsikt, avstand og tilnaerming ved a leggje vekt pa djupna av det dynamiske og plassering av lyd i rommet. I "A-ab-abs" er ogsa rorsle eit sentralt element, der han brukar instrumentas eigen idiomatikk som utgangspunkt.
Naturleg nok har han ein del ballettmusikk bak seg; m.a. "Sakk 4", "Alrekr" og "Kast". Likeeins er dei sceniske prosjekta viktig, som er gjort ved Det kgl. teater, Kobenhavn, Jytte Abildstroms teater, Kobenhavn, Teater tribonda, Cristal opera, Hordaland Teater, Bergen komediateater, Den Nationale Scene og Danseteatret.
Jostein Stalheim har motteke bestillingar fra ensembler i inn- og utland. Han har vore gjestekomponist ved fleire hove; Spania, Romania, Polen. Han har blitt tildelt fleire stipend, m.a. Statens etableringsstipend.
Stalheim er ogsa internasjonalt anerkjent solist pa akkordeon, med opptredener i BBC-TV, NRK-TV, videofestivalen i Cannes-85, ei rekkje orkestre i og utanfor Norden. Stalheim har vore styreformann i Ny Musikks Komponistgruppe og har vore engasjert i Ny Musikk i fleire ar. Han er no ogsa ansatt som produsent i Rikskonsertene, og har produsert fleire CD’ar.