Welcome to Mosjøen 24th to 31th of July . The Toppen Summer Music Academy vil take place for the 9th time and the organizers Vefsn Youth Strings will also this year make their best that all of you feel well in Mosjøen. We have still place for some more participants For application click hereCompetitionIn 2009 we will have had a competition to play as soloist. MANY OFFERSWe can offer you a varying program where we will keep you busy from when you wake up in the morning till late at night. We can guarantee that none of you will go home without any great musical experiences and having made new friends. Apart from the orchestra rehearsals, individual lessons, theory, chamber music and improvisation, our daily concerts make the course a small music festival. Furthermore we put high priority on social activities. Our volunteers will give you a personal follow-up and are at your disposition to any questions you might have. As previously, there will be a “music tour” out the Vefsnfjord and to one of the beautiful places on the coast of Helgeland. ORCHESTRAAs you might have noticed, also this year we have hired the acknowledged conductor Nicholas Carthy as the leader for the youth symphony orchestra. As a parallel to the symphony orchestra, we have the junior orchestra which will also offer good challenges. If someone think that they have been placed in “the wrong” orchestra, that the music is too easy or too difficult, please let us know as quickly as possible.SHEET MUSICThe sheet music has been send in the middle of June.INDIVIDUAL LESSONS AND CHAMBER MUSICEveryone will be offered individual lessons during the course. It is important that you decide in advance what you want to play for the teacher. Some of you have been sent sheet music for chamber music, but there is also a possibility to establish groups during the course. Remember to bring music for solo- and chamber music that you want instruction on. There will be possibilities to get piano accompaniment, so remember to bring piano sheet music for the solo pieces.
PIANO
Most of the piano lessons will be held at the Mosjøen music high school and Vefsn cultural school this year because we haveaccess to more and better instruments. FOLK MUSIC
IMPROVISATION
THEORY
Also this year we are offering theory divided in two groups based on knowledge. We will put up a list with those who have chosen theory lessons, but you will also be able to sign up at the start of the course.
CHOIR
All participants will join the choir hour every day. Ncholas Carthy will conduct.COMPOSITION CLASSThis is a new offer for young composition students.SCHEDULE
The schedule has been posted here on the website, but some changes might be made before the course starts. We will be updating the site regularly. Please keep orientated about what’s happening! The official opening of the course will be Friday 24 th July at 1730. Registration starts at 1500.
We wish you a good summer, and good luck with the preparations!The best greetings fromFranziska and Trond Wika.
Toppen International
Norwegian dictionary
Hei- hallo God morgen- good morning God dag- good afternoon God kveld- good evening God natt- good night Ha det bra- goodbye Takk- Thank youFrokost- breakfast Middag- Dinner1en 2to 3tre 4fire 5fem 6seks 7sju 8åtte 9ni 10ti 11elleve 12tolv 13tretten 14fjorten15femten 16seksten17sytten 18atten 19nitten 20tyve Mandag - Mondayi dag- today Tirsdag- Tuesdayi morgen- tomorrow Onsdag- Wednesdayi går- yesterday Torsdag- Thursdayuke- week Fredag- Fridaymåned- month Lørdag- Saturdayår- year Søndag- Sunday Hvordan har du det? – How are you? Helnote - semibreveHjul- coda signHalvnote- minimOpptakt - upbeatFjerdedelsnote – crotchetPause - restÅttendedelsnote- quaverTakt- barSekstendelsnote- semiquaverTaktstrek- bar linePunktert fjerdedel- dotted crotchetTriol- triplet
Summer Music School
Toppen Summer School of Musichas been arranged in Mosjøen in the countyof Nordlandevery year in August since 2001. It is the most northern, the third biggest, and has developed to become the very most international of the 11 summer courses under the auspice of the voluntary Norwegian School Orchestra Association (NSOF). The 90-100 participants usually are 8-20 of age, playing string instruments or piano. Rehearsals are arranged in various orchestras, chamber ensembles and in an improvisation workshop. In addition to this we offer a course of piano jazz, individual lessons, master classes and music theory. The repertory is mostly classic music and folk music from the participants’ countries. We wish a wide variety of music, tuition of high quality, a great number of public performances and good opportunities for social relationship for the participants.
The course is arranged at Vefsn “folk high school” or “Toppen”. The responsible arranger is the orchestra Vefsn Young Strings, Mosjøen. There’s a great number of rooms for tuition, two big halls of residence, and a dining hall. The wonderful staff of “Toppen” makes delicious food. The last two years about 30 participants have come from abroad, from , , Northwest Russia, The Netherlands, , & and . The conductors and teachers are Norwegian or from the participating countries, and are amongst the best available teachers for young people. They work well together and wish to come back to this arena, near the Vefsn fiord by the outlet of the river Vefsna, year after year, to make a lot of nice music together with young, eager and glad musicians like you!
Rainbow Strings (RS)is a little festival arisen from a close friendship between young people playing folk music and classic music in the Russian republicof Karelia, North Kareliain , Västerbotten län in and Nordland fylke in the North Norway. It has been arranged by turns by a network of voluntary working enthusiasts in four countries: In Lycksele in 2002, in Mo i Rana and Petrozavodsk in 2003 (on the occasion of its 300 year anniversary), in Mosjøen in 2004 (as a part of Toppen Summer School of Music), and in Rääkkylä in 2005 (as a part of Kihaus, Finland’s next biggest folk music festival).
RS is arranged for youth playing string instruments and traditional folk music instruments. Many are also singer and dancers, and teach the others. The most important music for joint rehearsals and performances in orchestras and groups is the great diversity of Nordic and North European folk music and music created on the basis of folk music. The Rainbow Strings “movement” is also a gateway for better understanding and more knowledge and appreciation of the compound culture within the four adjacent countries – music without borders! Not only the young participants will take pleasure in this. Teachers of music will hopefully be inspired to use this new experience later. In addition to the program of music RS also is a “school” of organising a closer co-operation and neighbourhood – and that’s what everybody wants! The events in 2006.This year it’s again Mosjøen’s go to arrange RS. Like we did in 2004 Toppen Summer School of Music will be the host of RS. The events will happen 14th-20th August. We expect about 100 participants from 9 countries, and about 20 professional musicians will be the conductors and teachers. For the first time there will be a symphonic orchestra, so players of wind instruments are invited to come too. As usual there will be a lot of chamber groups, an improvisation workshop, individual lessons and theory. Plans are being made to put together a big RS orchestra, with participants from many countries. There will be a joint program consisting of a folk music repertory from all the countries. In addition to the big orchestra, rehearsals and performances for the various national groups will be on the program. We also expect a group from West Highlands in , to contribute in the symphonic orchestra, hopefully also as folk music players. At least 12 public concerts will be arranged. A big international consert will be arranged on 16th August. On Saturday 19th August everybody will be invited to attend a music cruise to the islandof Vega, which is on Unesco’s list of world inheritance. The big final concert will be in Mosjøen Culture House on 20th August at 1 o’clock p.m.We welcome old and new participants from within and outside Norway to an inspired and instructive Summer Music School in Mosjøen - the town just in the middle of Norway.
The summer school is for all types of string instruments and piano. We emphasize all-round music with ensemble playing in orcestra and chamber groups, taking into consideration age and level of standard.
• Type of music: Orchestra- and chamber music, folk music from Norway and from abroad, jazz etc. • Individual instruction and master classes. • Improvisation course • Theory lessons
Please send an email to post@toppenkurset.no and we will send you more information.
Toppen Summer Schoolof Musicin Mosjøen in the county of Nordland, Norway is an international summer school of music being organised every year for 90-100 children and youth during one week, from about 15th August. The participants usually are 8-20 of age, playing string-, windinstruments and piano. There are rehearsals in various orchestras, chamber ensembles, individual lessons and master classes, improvisation workshop, music theory, and folk music from the participants’ countries.
"The last years about 30 participants have come from abroad, from Sweden, Finland, Russia, The Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa and Serbia & Montenegro." The conductors and teachers of music are Norwegian and from the participating countries. They are amongst the best available teachers for young people. They also work very well together and wish to come back, year after year.
This year we will have symphony orchestra with the famous conductor Nicholas Carthy.
Rainbow Strings
is the beautiful name of a festival, arisen from a close friendship between young people playing folk music and classic music in the Russian republic of Karelia, North Karelia in Finland, Västerbotten län (county) in Sweden and Nordland fylke (county) in Norway. They mainly play string instruments and traditional folk music instruments, and also sing and dance.
"Small festivals have been arranged by turn by a network of voluntary working enthusiasts in the four countries: In Lycksele in 2002, in Mo i Rana and Petrozavodsk in 2003 on the occasion of the town's 300 year anniversary, in Mosjøen in 2004 as a part of Toppen Summer School of Music, and in Joensuu/Rääkkylä in 2005 as a part of Kihaus, which is the next biggest folk music festival of Finland."
The aim of Rainbow Strings is primarily to gather in joint orchestras making as many performances as possible for people. For the Rainbow Strings “movement” music also is a gateway for better knowledge and appreciation of the compound culture within the four adjacent countries – for the participants and their creative teachers. Rainbow Strings also represent a “school” of co-operation, respect and friendship amongst young people, forming the basis of public and voluntary efforts and a closer neighbourhood.
Nobody should be astonished by our good results so far – culture bearers often lead the way in the direction of ordinary people’s contact internationally, and it’s a good idea and a rewarding task indeed to start with the coming generation!
In 2006
Toppen Summer School will be arranged 14th-20th August, with the Rainbow Strings festival as an integrated part of it. We expect participants from all the above-mentioned countries. The orchestras and ensembles for string and tangent instruments will be maintained, and of course folk music from the Nordic countries and Kareliawill be paid particular attention to this year. Like 2005 we also expect a group from FortWilliam, West Highlandin Scotland, playing classic music and Scottish folk music.
The foreign participants will bring with them their music and teachers, and make performances, but mostly they will rehearse and play each other’s music together. This year we for the first time also invite youth playing wind instruments, trying to put together a symphonic orchestra. There will be at least 12 concerts totally. The big final concert will be on 20th August. On 19th August everybody will be invited to attend a music cruise to the islandof Vega, which is now on Unesco’s list of world inheritance.
