Kenneth Sivertsen

Kenneth Sivertsen (16 January 1961 – 24 December 2006) was a Norwegian musician, composer, poet, and comedian.

Background Born in Mosterhamn, a small settlement on the Norwegian island of Bømlo, Sivertsen made a musical debut playing the bass guitar at a Christmas party at age 8. Years later he went on to form the group One Two Three together with his friends. After secondary school he went on to attend Voss Folk High School, where he expanded his musical sensibilities. Several of the guitar pieces he composed at this time went on to be released on his album Spør Vinden (1988).

In 1981 he composed his first symphony, Håp (Hope), which would go on to be performed by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout the 1980s Sivertsen would become nationally known through several TV appearances and radio broadcasts, as well as musical tours with Jan Eggum, among others. In 1984 he composed the symphony Timeglaset og Morgonstjerna (The Hourglass and the Morning Star).

Sivertsen worked with a number of prominent American jazz musicians, including Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Tony Levin, and Bob Mintzer. The albums Remembering North (1993) and One Day In October (1998) were both released in the United States, and were received to favorable international acclaim.

From 1992 to 1997 he was in a both personal and artistic relationship with Norwegian singer and actress Herborg Kråkevik. Together they produced Cabaret, a successful stage show, as well as the album Mi Haugtussa.

Illness and death On March 27, 2005, Sivertsen suffered severe head trauma after collapsing from an epilepsy attack during a visit in Haugesund, Norway. The damage from the fall caused a brain haemorrhage which forced doctors to remove parts of his skull for him to be able to survive the ordeal, and he spent nearly a week in a coma following surgery. Following several operations, he spent the next three months in various hospitals and recreation centers. In October 2006 he suffered yet another serious epilepsy attack, causing another near-fatal fall in his home. The fall left him incapacitated for the remainder of his life, spending his last two months in intensive care.

Sivertsen died on Haukeland Universitetssykehus in Bergen on Christmas Eve 2006 from complications from epilepsy and the several brain haemorrhages suffered the previous two years. A series of tribute concerts for Sivertsen were held in the weeks prior to his death, with the final concert scheduled for December 26, two days after his death.

On January 16, 2011, a celebration of Sivertsen's life was held in his hometown of Mosterhamn, on what would have been his 50th birthday. In September 2011, it was also announced that the street where he lived in Bømlo would be renamed Kenneth Sivertsens veg (Kenneth Sivertsens Road) in his honour.

Main works 1980: Largo i Bb-moll (December) – for tenor saxophone, klaver and string orchestra 1981: Spør vinden – for cello and guitar 1981: Miniature suite – for wind trio 1981/84: Håp – Symfoni nr. 1 - premiered by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra 1983: For ope hav I – chamber version 1983: For ope hav II – orchestral version 1984/89: Timeglaset og Morgonstjerna – Symfoni nr. 2 – premiered by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra 1984: Festens gave – for choir, flute and piano 1985: Før og etterdønning – for chamber orchestra 1987: Døtrene – for choir, violin and guitar 1987: Himmelsyn – for choir, jazz ensemble and orchestra 1989: Dragning – for clarinet and string orchestra 1990: Teatermusikk – to the play "Da jeg var liten var jeg vill og gal" ("When I was little I was wild and crazy"), Den Nationale Scene 1990: Whistling wind – for girls choir, flute, piano and synthesizer 1990: Fylg tanken – for among others children's choir, fiddle and electric guitar 1991: Buicken – film music with Reidar Skår 1991: Brevet til Loise – for girls choir, piano, cello and flute 1991: Steingarden – for string quartet 1992: På veg til Hardanger – for among others fiddle, tenor saxophone and piano 1993: Jordbær under sneen – for strings, jazz orchestra with soloist 1994: Eiketreet – for harmonica and strings 1995: Brytningstid – festival ballet Carte Blanche at Bergen International Festival 2000: Sollandet frå grav – for trumpet 2003: Requiem – commission for Bergen International Festival

Discography As performer and composer 1983: Einsamflygar (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 1985: Amalgamation (Hot Club Records) 1988: Spør Vinden (NorCD) 1990: Flo (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 1993: Remembering North (NorCD) 1994: High Tide (Nimis Records) 1995: Den Lilla Kvelven (Nimis Records), with Jon Fosse 1996: Draumespor (Norsk Plateproduksjon) 1997: Brytningstid (Nimis Records) 1998: Melk Og Honning (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 1998: One Day In October (Nimis Records) 2000: Blod & Bensin (Edel Records) 2004: Fløyel (Noble Records)

As composer 2002: Steingarden (Vest-Norsk Plateselskap), with Hansakvartetten 2005: Philharmonica (Pro Musica), the piece "Søkjer din fred" soloist Sigmund Groven (harmonica) with Kringkastingsorkesteret conducted by Christian Eggen 2014: Dragning (Amethyst Records), including five pieces of chamber music by Kenneth Sivertsen: Dragning, For ope hav, Døtrene, Largo and Brevet til Loise