Trasa Stockholm, Copenhagen

After the Second World War, young composers like Arne Nordheim tried to find out what had been happening in European musical life. The years of occupation in Norway helped perpetuate the national romantic style. Hence Nordheim drew his knowledge on contemporary literature and music from late programmes on Swedish Radio. In later years, Swedish Radio commissioned music from him and placed its ensembles at his disposition for the performance of his works during the Nordic Music Days.

In 1955, Nordheim’s first work, Epigram, was performed, and his first great masterwork, Aftonland, was premiered on Danish Radio. Nordheim’s Danish composition teacher, Vagn Holmboe, probably convinced the music publisher Wilhelm Hansen to sign an exclusive contract with Nordheim in 1961. (jc)