instruments solo trumpet and brass quintet

year of production 2006/07

commissioned by Svenska Rikskonserter

dedication Håkan Hardenberger and Stockholm Chamber Brass

duration 17‘   

first performance
June 30th 2007

Båstad Kammarmusikfestival 2007

Apelrydsladan, Båstad

Håkan Hardenberger
Stockholm Chamber Brass

work comments

Confrontation was composed on commission from Svenska Rikskonserter and is dedicated to Håkan Hardenberger and Stockholm Chamber Brass.

The trumpet soloist works as a transmitter and the brass quintet like a receiver.
They are confronted and changing roles in between during the course of the journey were the soloists moves from noise towards pitch while the brass goes right the opposite, from pitch to noise. The work is divided into three movements that is played without a break.

Reviews on Confrontation:

Apelrydsladan, Båstad

Håkan Hardenberger/Stockholm Chamber Brass

[…] ”a completely brilliant world-premiere by the young composer Benjamin Staern (born 1978) ”Confrontation”. A work that for me in rapid succession associated with Stravinsky, Ligeti, bigbandjazz and fusion before I just gave up and realized that this is music that you cannot frame into but it explodes from a new and original source. A gushingly frenzied music, that collects itself together and breaks apart, with its utmost raging dialogical power. And its very last crash felt like a leap into - yes, into what?

On the way from Båstad I drove out to Hovs Hallar, the headland on the west coast, just to see the horizon. And yes, that line was still there. But with these assurances won’t be needed for Benjamin Staern - that in my ears can be as big as possible.” […]

Martin Nyström, Dagens Nyheter, July 2nd 2007

Stockholm Chamber Brass warming up in Apelrydsladan during Båstad Kammarmusikfestival 2007, June 30th.