Jan Erik Mikalsen studied at the Grieg Academy in Bergen and at the Royal Danish Music Academy in Copenhagen. He has had numerous works performed by several orchestras in the Nordic countries including Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. He has also composed works for various instrument combinations and solo instruments, and received commissions from among others Oslo Sinfonietta, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra and Artis-Quartett Wien. In 2005 he was one of two winners of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestras Nordic/Baltic Composer Work shop. He has also written music for different video installations, among others visual artist Bård Ask including the work Global Perspective. In 2006 the piece Ghouls & Moons was released on the CD Lights out (ACD5048) by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, conductor Rolf Gupta.

Pygar Tales

Pygar Tales, a piece for sinfonietta featuring musical saw, is based on a character from the cult classic science fiction movie Barbarella. Pygar is the blind angel protecting Barbarella. The film was perhaps the ultimate camp movie of the 60’ies, and the piece is loosely based on the style of the film. The focus is laid on celesta, piano, harp and musical saw. The piece has three movements and the music has a storytelling character, deploying “Mickey Mouse” style composing, without being based on a clear story.

www.janerikmikalsen.com