the nordic journey series, Volume III

Published in October 2022 by the Norwegian firm Norskmusikforlag AB, The Nordic Journey Series Volume III (catalog number NMO 15037) contains a preface outlining the first 12 volumes of the Nordic Journey recording series, and detailed notes concerning the 13 compositions in the book. Jim commissioned five of the works contained in this volume, all written by Nordic composers between the years 2013 and 2021. Other works date from our time and, in addition, several date from the middle decades of the twentieth-century. All appear here in print for the first time. The Nordic Journey Series can be purchased at Norsk Musikforlag.

Pauli Riihivaara (1903-1995)

Preludi ja fuga

Frithjof Spalder (1896-1985)

Passacaglia for Organ

Kjell Mørk Karlsen (b. 1947)

Suite: "Fra himlen høyt jeg kommer her"

Tore Bjørn Larsen (b. 1957)

Borgfred, Toccata for Organ

Lise Dynnesen (b. 1956)

Kom sandheds ånd

Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)

Messa Misteriosa

Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)

Cantabile

Thomas Åberg (b. 1952)

Toccata XIII

Thomas Åberg (b. 1952)

Toccata XIX

Peter Hilli (b. 1956)

Misericordia Domine

Sigurður Sævarsson (b. 1963)

Rain

Jón Leifs (1899-1968)

Transcribed for organ by Björn Steinar Sólbergsson (b. 1961)

Islensk rimnadanslög

Markus Malmgren (b. 1969)

Variations on the folk melody "Skön Anna"

The Complete Organ Music Of Kjell Mørk Karlsen

The Norwegian firm Norsk Musikforlag has recently published a new book from Jim's hand entitled The Complete Organ Music Of Kjell Mørk Karlsen. Written during the pandemic, this is the first work that examines every composition for organ written by Mørk Karlsen as well as providing a unique historical perspective on the artist's life and times. The genesis of the book has its origin in over three months of daily online interviews conducted by Hicks with the composer and as such will be an original source for future scholars and musicians in regard to the musical output of this Norwegian master. Published in celebration of the Kjell Mørk Karlsen's 75th birthday, Jim's work is part of a threefold acknowledgment, along with a jubilee concert on March 31, 2022, and a Nordic Journey recording of his music, of this important milestone. The Complete Organ Music Of Kjell Mørk Karlsen can be purchased at Norsk Musikforlag.

The Finnish American Reporter

Organ Music of Finland: A Nordic Journey

The July edition of the Finnish American Reporter, a Michigan-based periodical devoted to Finnish culture includes an article Jim wrote recently that describes his interest in the organ music of that country. Conceived as an introduction to the organ for the lay reader, the piece describes a few of the performance experiences he has enjoyed in Finland over the past few years, as well as summarizing his current research, commissions, and recording plans.

the nordic journey series, Volume II

Published by the Norwegian firm Norsk Musikforlag AS in October 2020, The Nordic Journey Series Volume II (catalog number N.M.O. 14666) contains a preface outlining the first ten volumes of the Nordic Journey recording series, and detailed notes concerning the 13 compositions in the book. Jim commissioned 11 of the works contained in this volume, all written by Nordic composers between the years 2015 and 2020. One additional work dates from the 1990s, appearing in print here for the first time, and a final piece, another publishing premiere, is from 1923. The Nordic Journey Series can be purchased at Norsk Musikforlag.

Sigurður Sævarsson (b .1963)

Hymna smiður (Heaven’s Maker)

Sigurður Sævarsson

Tears Of Stone

Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson (b. 1976)

Lingua

Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir (b. 1964)

Prelude And Fugue On An Icelandic Folk Melody

Pauli í Sandagerði (b. 1955)

A Sound Of The Faroe Islands

Kristian Blak (b. 1947)

Three Settings of Folk Themes from Greenland

Frithjof Spalder (1896-1985)

Toccata for Organ

Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)

Nordic Variations

Mårten Jansson (b. 1965)

Two Mass Parts On The Chorale “Allein Gott In Der Höh”

Anders S. Börjesson (b. 1975)

Paraphrase On The Swedish Children’s Song “Ekorren”

Christian Præstholm (b. 1972)

Fantasi over brudedans fra Sønderho (Fantasy on the bridal dance from Sønderho)

Christian Præstholm

Variations On The Danish Folk Tune “En yndig og frydefuld sommertid” (A lovely and joyous summertime)

Santeri Siimes (b. 1981)

Paraphrase sur “Ecce magnus presbiter”

the nordic journey series

Published by the Norwegian firm Cantando Musikkforlag AS in June 2018, The Nordic Journey Series (catalog number C4322) contains eight contemporary compositions from Nordic composers that Jim has commissioned between the years 2012 and 2017. Jim included a preface and detailed notes about each composition as a part of the project. This is a collection of organ music from the Nordic lands. These new compositions celebrate a culture that has one foot in tradition yet always looks ahead, placing the other foot on the path toward new expression. Here are contemporary works that have a foundation in traditional themes, but in addition take these concepts to new destinations. This is Nordic Journey, a voyage for both the performer and auditor. The Nordic Journey Series can be purchased at Norsk Musikforlag.

Santeri Siimes (b. 1981)

Rhapsody sur “Ramus virens olivarum”

Pauli í Sandagerði (b. 1955)

Intermezzo nr. 1

Mauri Viitala (b. 1948)

Canon, Partite & Fuga per organo sopra il corale “Sen suven suloisuutta”

Mårten Jansson (b. 1965)

A Part Of My Heritage

Mårten Jansson

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen (1955)

Summer Fantasy on “Dronning Dagmar”

Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen

Variations and Fugue On A Danish Folk Tune

Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir (1964)

Fantasia um Ísland, farsælda Frón

The Diapason

An Introduction to the Organ Works of Kjell Mørk Karlsen

The organ works of contemporary Norwegian composer Kjell Mørk Karlsen have exerted considerable influence upon my Nordic Journey recording series. The vast scope of this musician's output is impressive on many levels, and must surely rank as one of the great contributions to the contemporary organ repertoire.

As such, I was inspired to share my enthusiasm for this composer's work and conducted several interviews with him throughout 2014 and 2015 while on tour in Norway. The result is an article that the American periodical The Diapason published in August 2015, and now appears on my site with permission from the editor. This article provided the foundation for a book I wrote in the autumn of 2020 that researches every organ composition from the pen of Mørk Karlsen, It is the first complete survey of this body of music. My book is due to be published in Norway by Norsk Musikforlag in early 2022 in celebration of the composer's 75th birthday.

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The Diapason

An Introduction to the Organ Works of Fredrik Sixten

The music of Swedish composer Fredrik Sixten was my point of entry to contemporary Nordic repertoire some 15 years ago. Although the intervening years have connected me to other excellent artists from the north, the unique vision that informs Sixten’s creations is still a central aspect of my ongoing Nordic Journey project. I wrote the following article for the American periodical “The Diapason “ in early 2014, based upon extensive interviews with the composer from the preceding year. It was published in April 2014. Although Sixten has written a number of memorable works since then for both myself and other organists, the piece still is able to convey many of the essential aspects of Sixten’s life in music. I am happy to now offer my research to others who might want to learn more about one of the most extraordinary artists of our time.

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