Øystein Baadsvik

Fnugg is one of the most popular compositions for tuba solo of all time.

Fnugg Red is a variation on this song and was originally written for tuba, trombone and orchestra.

This is a version for trombone/euphonium, tuba and was premiered by Ben Pierce and Oystein Baadsvik at the Asia Tuba Euphonium Festival in 2017.

Fnugg is one of the most popular compositions for tuba solo of all time.
Fnugg Red is a variation on this song and was originally written for tuba, trombone and orchestra.
This is a version for tuba and piano. 

Fnugg is one of the most popular compositions for tuba solo of all time.
Fnugg Red is a variation on this song and was originally written for tuba, trombone and orchestra.
This is a version for tuba and piano. 

A Journey

I first performed with L. Subramaniam at his Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in 2014. During this tour across India I had the great honour and pleasure to work with some of the best musicians in the country. The biggest eye-opener though, was Subramaniam’s violin playing. During my thirty years as a professional musician I have never encountered a musician with such an intense presence while playing. This, combined with his mind-blowing technique and pure playfulness, made each concert a revelation. 

The biggest driving force during my career has always been the joy of musical exploration, so during a day off on the tour, aboard a boat on the beautiful Kerala Backwaters, it struck me that this simply had to be explored further. I asked Subramaniam to write us a double concerto for Indian violin, tuba and orchestra. Simultaneously, the idea of a complete disc was born.

The funny thing about small ideas is that they have a tendency to grow. All of a sudden the project included the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jaakko Kuusisto, Ambi Subramaniam on violin, singer Kavita Krishnamurti, D S R Murthy on mridangam and Toms Mikāls on keyboard. A few years, concerts and recording sessions later, you are holding the result in your hand. A unique musical journey through classical Indian ragas, epic orchestral landscapes and breath-taking virtuosity.

Øystein Baadsvik