Trio Brax Trio Brax

• Kjell Habbestad (b. 1955): Tres flores for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 97:
• 1 Habbestad: Tres flores for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 97: I. Saxifraga squarrosa 04:57
• 2 Habbestad: Tres flores for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 97: II. Viola cornuta 06:51
• 3 Habbestad: Tres flores for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 97: III. Digitalis grandiflora 05:39
• Håvard Lund (b. 1971): The Magpie & I:
• 4 Lund: The Magpie & I 09:37
• Helge Iberg (b. 1954): Ut å stjæle hester:
• 5 Iberg: Ut å stjæle hester: I. The Sting 05:31
• 6 Iberg: Ut å stjæle hester: II. The Ride 09:21
• Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963): Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47:
• 7 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: I. Solo. Sehr lebhaft, stürmisch 01:22
• 8 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: II. Arioso. Sehr langsam 04:07
• 9 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: III. Duett. Lebhaft 01:30
• 10 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: IV. (Potpourri). Schnelle Halbe 02:41
• 11 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: V. Lebhaft. Ganze Takte 01:47
• 12 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: VI. Schnelle Halbe 01:36
• 13 Hindemith: Trio for Viola, Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Op. 47: VII. Prestissimo 01:33
• Total Runtime 56:32

Info for Trio Brax

Trio Brax is a chamber music ensemble based in Tromsø, Northern Norway, founded in 2015. In this first recording they showcase music by the three Norwegian composers; Kjell Habbestad, Håvard Lund, and Helge Iberg, as well as music by Paul Hindemith.

With the unusual combination of viola, tenor saxophone, and piano, Trio Brax is an odd flower in the world of classical chamber music. The highlighting of two instruments that are not commonly identified as solistic is intriguing and offers a different palette to the listener. While other conventional piano trios can pick and choose from a wide range of well-known classical works, there used to be just one famous work written for the ensemble type of Trio Brax; Trio Op. 47 by Paul Hindemith from 1928. Well, until now!

Challenging three of Norway's leading contemporary composers to plunge into this universe initially discovered by Hindemith, a new and exciting repertory has emerged. As the combination of the three instruments opens for brand new timbres, musical landscapes and dynamic voyages, the three new works display a wide range of musical colours. We are presented with music that is playful without being experimental, expressive as well as virtuosic on multiple levels.

Julia Neher, viola
Ola Asdahl Rokkones, tenor saxophone, tenor saxophone without mouthpiece
Sergej Osadchuk, piano

Trio Brax
With the line-up of viola, tenor saxophone and piano, Trio Brax is a rare bird among Norwegian chamber music ensembles. If not also internationally. This despite the fact that Paul Hindemith wrote one of the first pieces for this ensemble type. Trio Brax has taken the challenge, and has commissioned several new works. For the moment the repertory includes the works “The Magpie & I" by Håvard Lund (2016) and "Abraximately" by Helge Iberg (2017). Several new works are in the making.

The ensemble consists of Julia Neher, Ola Asdahl Rokkones and Sergej Osadchuk, three musicians from Tromsø that have been recognized internationally. Julia Neher plays the viola in NOSO, but is also a frequent guest in leading orchestras worldwide. The saxophonist Ola Asdahl Rokkones is a musical chameleon, playing both classical music and jazz. Sergej Osadchuk is professor in piano at the University in Tromsø, and his career includes several appearances with orchestra as well as many acclaimed records.

They have built their repertory in close collaboration with some of Norway’s leading contemporary composers. The result is playful without being experimental, as well as expressive and virtuosic on multiple levels. While classical music for regular piano trios traditionally points towards older works, the instrumentarium of Trio Brax is open to brand new sounds and musical landscapes.

Booklet for Trio Brax