Kjell Habbestad: How Do Composers Compose?

An admirer of Peter Tchaikovsky once asked, “Sir, how do you compose all that great music?” He replied, “Madam, I do it sitting down.” Okay, that’s a start. But where do composers get their ideas for a composition in the first place? And if they decide, say, to write a concerto for the oboe and orchestra, how do they get started? Do they keep files of themes for possible use in future compositions? Or suppose they find a poem they want to use as the text for a song. Does the poem elicit ideas for a melody? How much of the composition process depends on inspiration, and how much is primarily a matter of hard work?

These are some of the questions Norwegian composer Kjell Habbestad will address in his lecture at Norway House. He will illustrate his talk with samples from several of his compositions. His presentation will also feature the world premiere of a recently completed song for voice and piano, “Look to This Day,” with soprano Melissa Holm-Johansen as a soloist and the composer himself at the piano.

Moderated with an introduction by William H. Halverson, internationally recognized expert on Edvard Grieg.

Kjell Habbestad

Kjell Habbestad studied church music and composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music and has had a multi-faceted career as an organist, teacher, and composer. He retired as a Professor of Theory and Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo in 2022. His career as a composer began auspiciously in 1978 (at age 23) when he won his “Magnificat” won first prize in a prestigious competition in Norway.

Selected works

Eg trur (2017)

Nenia — ein kammeropera til minne om Fartein Valen (2014)

Strykekvartett nr. 2 (2013)

Greven av Monte Cristo (2011)

Konsert for obo og orkester (2012)

Adam og Eva (2008)

Une Page d’Historie de la Civilisation (2005)

Munchsuite (2002)

Un rêve Norvégien, konsert for altsaksofon og symphonic band (2002)

Angeli for fløyte, fiolin, cello og piano (2001)

The Maid of Norway (2000)

14 Ibsensanger (1996)

Hans Egedes natt (1995)

Ei natt på jorda (1993)

Quattro Stazioni (1989)

Hammerklavier (1989)

Etwas neues unter der Sonnen, konsert for hardingfele og symphonic band (1986)

Ave Maria (1984)

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The Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota's second annual Sommer Musikk Fest is a family-friendly expression of community togetherness surrounding performances, scholarship, networking, food and drink, and above all, music. The festival includes a variety of concerts, lectures, dinners, happy hours, a social media competition, our piano competition, and performances from last year's voice competition winners. Our featured artists this year make up the Habbestad Ensemble, a Norwegian family of classical and folk musicians spanning three generations of talent.

Host or Publisher Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota