Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen

Circius

The piece was composed in 1988. The version for Concert Band was made in 2020.

The title refers to a description of the wind of the north made by Olaus Magnus who lived in the 16th century. He drew maps describing people, animals, weather, winds, sea monsters etc. The map Carta Marina was unprecise, but the best they had. But he never visited the places himself. In the map over northern parts of Norway, he describes the wind 'Circius' as the worst of all winds.

The fast sections refers to the wind. In the middle section I borrow a folksong-like tune by Catharinus Elling (1858-1942). The text by Kristoffer Janson, tells about fishermen in small open boats. When they faced the force of nature they could do nothing but put their lives in the hand of God.

Thanks to Rick Peperkamp who asked me to do the Concert Band version. Thanks to my good friend, the conductor Bjørn Breistein, for valuable thoughts and comments on this version of the piece.