Áskell Másson (*1953)
Played by the best orchestras, ensembles and soloists, his music reflects a powerful sense of drama. The variety of rhythms and sounds, the combination of lyrical and percussive moments, give to his compositions a unique intensity.
Áskell Másson (b. 21. November 1953) is amongst Iceland´s leading composers. With a varied background as a woodwind player and percussionist, he was appointed composer and instrumentalist of the Ballet of the National Theatre in Reykjavik in l973 and in his early tventies he worked considerably in the theatre though always composing concert music.
His early works were often heard at Scandinavian music festivals from 1974 and onwards, but in 1980 his Clainet Concerto was presented at the Rostrum of Composers in Paris, and being a specially recommended piece by a composer under the age of thirty, this was an important recognition of his compositional work.
In the seventies, he was a pioneer in the field of percussion in Iceland and elsewhere, playing and composing, using new methods and instrumental combinations and techniques.
In 1978-1983 he worked as a producer at the Iceland State Radio after which he has devoted his time exclusively to composition.
He was Secretary General of the Society of Icelandic Composers in 1983-85, and President/Vice President of the Performing Rights Society (STEF) l989-99 being still on the board today.
After his childhood studies in music he went to London to study privately percussion with the renowned James Blades and harmony and counterpoint with Patrick Savill.
He has worked with some of the finest soloists (Christian Lindberg, Evelyn Glennie, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Roger Woodward) orchestras (New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Wienna Radio Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic) and conductors (Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leif Segerstam, Leonard Slatkin, Jerzy Maksymiuk) in the world, often staying periodically in artists´residences worldwide.
His music has been described as:
“...ethereal in sound and has an expressive character that is withdrawn yet full of intensity” (Okto November for strings)
”Extremely unusual sounds reminiscent of both the human voice and of electrical instruments” (Helfro for percussion)
“a gem” (Blik for solo clarinet)
Göran Bergendal, New Music in Iceland
“.. an essential lyricism coupled with a seductive, even sensous manipulation of sound” (an all Masson concert in the Wigmore Hall, London)
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph.
(Masson)”…has extraordinary insight into the unique attributes of each instrument for which he writes…”
Hilary Finch, Nordic Sounds.
His music has been heard at festivals all over the world including the Gulbenkian Festival, ISCM World Music Days, Hong Kong Arts festival, Sydney Spring Festival, Nordic Music Days, Blossom Festival, Cleveland and many more
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
3 Bagatelles
for clarinet solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 5'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1991
Áskell Másson
5 Pieces
for trumpet and trombone
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2010
Áskell Másson
A voce sola
for viola solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1984
Áskell Másson
Aeolus
for tuba solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 3'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2003
Áskell Másson
Alfasteinn
for piano
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2001
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Áskell Másson
Alu Dream
for aluphon (4 players)
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 4'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2021
Áskell Másson
Alu Song
for aluphone
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 4'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2017
Áskell Másson
Aura
for percussion solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 7'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2002
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
B2B
Back to Basics for snare drum solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2010
Áskell Másson
Blik
for clarinet solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1979
Áskell Másson
Boreas
for tuba solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1999
Áskell Másson
Cadenza
for trombone solo
Áskell Másson
Canto Nordico
Trombone Concerto for trombone and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 23'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2000
Áskell Másson
Cosmic Tree
for marimba and 3 percussionists
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2009
Áskell Másson
Crossings
Double Concerto for 2 percussions and orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 20'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2002
Áskell Másson
Derrière le miroir
for 10 brass instruments
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 9'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1983
Áskell Másson
Duettino
for 2 clarinets
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 1'40
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1980/2018
Áskell Másson
Elja
for chamber orchestra
- Duration: 11'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Fantasia
for clarinet and harpsichord
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1991
Áskell Másson
Fantasiestück
for piano
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 6'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2004
Áskell Másson
Fo(u)r Mallets
for 4 solo mallets on any surface
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 2'20
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2014
Áskell Másson
Frón
for symphony orchestra
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2003
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
Frum
A Drum Song for solo percussion
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1995
Áskell Másson
Glacier
for baritone saxophone and vibraphone
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 11'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2002
Áskell Másson
Hrim
for cello solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1978
Áskell Másson
Ima
for 1 percussionist
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 8'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2006
Áskell Másson
Impromptu
for marimba solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1987
Áskell Másson
Io
for snare drum solo and 3 percussions
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 8'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2022
Áskell Másson
Kammersinfonia
Symphony N° 2 for chamber orchestra
- Duration: 24'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1997
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Best Seller
Áskell Másson
Kím
for snare drum solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2001
Áskell Másson
Konzertstück
for snare drum and piano
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
Konzertstück
for snare drum and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Konzertstück
for snare drum and brass band
- Arranger: Alan Gout
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Konzertstück
for snare drum and symphonic wind band
- Arranger: Alan Gout
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Konzertstück
for snare drum and percussion ensemble
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Lament
for flute solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1978
Áskell Másson
Larghetto
for organ
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 5'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2009
Áskell Másson
Maes Howe
Tuba Concerto for tuba and chamber orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1999
Áskell Másson
Marimba Concerto
for marimba and orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 30'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1987
Áskell Másson
Melodie
for viola and marimba
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 8'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2005
Áskell Másson
Monologue
for trombone solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2002
Áskell Másson
Music for Brass Quintet
for brass quintet
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2007
Áskell Másson
Northern Lights
for horn, strings, harp and marimba
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 14'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2021
Áskell Másson
Októ Nóvember
for string orchestra
- Duration: 11'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Ora
for 6 percussionists and orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 22'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2007
Áskell Másson
Partita
for guitar and percussion
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1984
Áskell Másson
Pianotrio
for piano, violin and cello
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 12'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1995
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
Prím
for snare drum solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1984
Áskell Másson
Quatrain
for 4 saxophones solo, tubular bells and string orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 22'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2005
Áskell Másson
Seasons
Fantasy on a Chinese Poem for clarinet and hand drum
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1987
Áskell Másson
Shadows
for solo trumpet and brass quintet
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Spanish Brass Repertoire
- Composed: 2003
Áskell Másson
Sindur
for 4 percussionists
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 23'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1989
Áskell Másson
Sinfonia Trilogia
Hyr - Ra - Hvel for symphony orchestra
- Duration: 55'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1992
Áskell Másson
Sonata I
for marimba solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1984
Áskell Másson
Sonatina
for clarinet and piano
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 12'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1998
Áskell Másson
Teikn
for violin solo
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1982
Áskell Másson
Toccata
for chromatic tom-toms
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1976
Best Seller
Áskell Másson
Tromma
for 2 percussions
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 9'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2002
Áskell Másson
Tryst
for trombone and tuba
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 3'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2008
Áskell Másson
Twilight
for cello and darabuka
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2000
Áskell Másson
Violin Concerto
for violin and symphony orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 27'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2001
Áskell Másson
Woodwind Quintet
for woodwind quintet
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 18'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 1991
Áskell Másson
Ymni
for chamber ensemble
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2000
Áskell Másson
Ymur
Quiet Music for contrabass solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Composed: 2006