An article on the performance of Symphony No. 4
http://www.ballade.no/sak/oslo-filharmonien-urfremforer-halvor-haugs-symfoni-nr-4/There is no doubt that Haug's music has deep roots in the Nordic symphonic tradition. From these roots has grown a musical world full of strong emotion, drama and intellect; properties reflecting the composers personality, feelings, temperament, courage strength and originality. His masterly orchestration is much revered. Halvor Haug has the ability to take care of modernistic elements and composition techniques that have emerged in the postwar years and dynamically apply these in a more traditional sounding music. Haug's music can therefore really be seen as innovative, and difficult counted among the neo-romantic undercurrents currently going over the world. Nevertheless he on several occasions been described as being a romantic.
Halvor Haug was born in Trondheim in 1952 and grew up in west Bærum outside Oslo. Following studies in Oslo, Helsinki and London he soon became one of Norway's most significant composers. His symphonies and many smaller orchestral works have attracted significant attention in Norwegian and international music.
About his fourth symphony says Halvor Haug: - Symphony No.. 4 was completed before Christmas. It is written in a single rate for a typical large orchestra. The work is dedicated to all the innocent victims of terrorism and their families around the world. On me, as on most other people, did what happened last autumn a huge impression. The only way I can show a commitment to, or try to express emotion, to let it get expired in music. Of course I have not embarked me on to try and describe such earthshaking events. It was never in my thoughts. An artistic expression is for me my way to signal an attempt to communicate on an intellectual and emotional level. To use an expression needs to describe something as cruel as what happened on September 11, would be unthinkable for me. Then an expression means grotesque and incredibly naive. The symphony is naturally characterized by the impotence and sadness I felt, but after all, I hope that also an optimism has been expressed. Without it I would never have been able to write a new symphony.
Symphony No.. 4 is commissioned by the Oslo Philharmonic, with funding from the Norwegian Society of Composers. Administration performed in Oslo Concert at 19.30, Thursday 14th and Friday 15th February 2002. On the program are Mozart's "Requiem".