(b. 30 March 1968, Inderøy, Trøndelag).
Norwegian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and piano works that have been performed throughout Europe and elsewhere.
Mr. Ness attempted various instruments as a child, including clarinet, guitar, recorder, and violin. He later studied guitar with Jan Birger Danielsen at the Norges musikkhøgskole – Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo in 1987–88, where he then studied composition with Bjørn Kruse, Ragnar Søderlind, Olav Anton Thommessen, and Lasse Thoresen from 1989–95.
Among his honours are the Årets verk from the Norsk Komponistforening in Oslo (1993, for Schatten [original version]; 2023, for Rawgabbiting), the Edvard-prisen in Oslo (1998, greater prize, for Cascading Ordure; 2000, lesser prize, for The Dangerous Kitten [original version]) and the Spellemannprisen in the category contemporary music (2009, for the CD Simax Classics: PSC1278).
His music has been performed in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL:
Cis-trans, small orchestra (15 players), 1991
Schatten, small orchestra (23 players), 1992 (also version for percussion, symphonic band, 2025)
Dandy Garbage, small orchestra (26 players), 1993
Zap Francescos Phoney Pony – À F. Z. et G. L., large orchestra (14 winds, 11 brass, piano, 3 percussion, strings), 1995
Yaws, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, 3 percussion, strings), 1996
Cascading Ordure, orchestra/large orchestra (8 winds, 11 brass, 3 percussion, strings), 1997
The Dangerous Kitten, trombone, small orchestra (flute [+ piccolo], oboe, 3 clarinets [2 + bass clarinet], bassoon, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, 2 percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 1998 (also version for symphonic band, 2023)
TORN (Zorn Zorn Zorn), large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, harp, piano [+ celesta], 4 percussion, strings), 1999
Infected, small orchestra (17 players), 1999
Loud and Annoying, clarinet, percussion, large orchestra (11 winds, 11 brass, piano, percussion, strings), 2000
One Tooth Clapping, small orchestra (16 players), 2001
Tics and Tiffs, symphonic band, 2001
Wet Blubber Soup, cello, large orchestra, 2002
George gets a Makeover – Misreadings of Gershwin, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, piano, 3 percussion, strings), 2002
Mad Cap Tootling, violin, small orchestra (16 players), 2003
Tulip Smacking, small orchestra (15 players), 2003
Gist, 3 percussion, symphonic band, 2004
Bad News from the Desert (Deep Pain of the Dung Beetle), clarinet, military band, 2004 (also version as Good News from Odessa, clarinet [collaboration with Rolf Borch])
Tchaikovsky Tag, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, timpani, 3 percussion, strings), 2004
Bury My Heart at Katnosa, amplified guitar, orchestra/large orchestra (7 winds, 11 brass, percussion, strings), 2005
Stains of Time, oboe, small orchestra (17 players), 2005
Fierce Kentucky Mothers of Doom, 2 small orchestras (28 players total), 2005 (also version for 2 trombones, 2 small orchestras [28 players total], 2006)
Dog Days, amplified bassoon, symphonic band, 2006
Owl Parrot's Yowl, euphonium, small orchestra (14 players), 2007
Low Jive, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, piano, 3 percussion, strings), 2007
Sunburst, piano, large orchestra (6 winds, 11 brass, 3 percussion, strings), 2007
Snowblind, viola, small orchestra (14 players), 2008
Zvezdochka in Orbit, cello, symphonic band, 2009
Civet Skin Smack, small orchestra, fixed media, 2009
Who's Afraid of Barbara Woof?, small orchestra (14 players), 2009
Stim, symphonic band in 4 groups, 2009
Swan's Foetus, orchestra/large orchestra (8 winds, 9 brass, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2011
Girascope, symphonic band, 2011
Retriedweird, small orchestra (14 players), 2011
Bogey Thresher, tuba, orchestra/large orchestra (6 winds, 9 brass, 3 percussion, strings), 2011
220711, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, piano, percussion, strings), 2012
jønjiljo, small orchestra (14 players), 2012
Oort's Cloud, small orchestra (14 players), 2012
Mjær, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, percussion, strings), 2013
My Bloody Mudfish, small orchestra (19 players), 2013
The Shoots, percussion, orchestra (4 winds, 7 brass, harp, timpani, percussion, strings), 2013
Mørkgånga, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 3 percussion, strings), 2014
Silver Cruithne, symphonic band, 2014
Saur, symphonic band, 2015
Nábár, small orchestra (flute, oboe, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 2015
Ætscæke, flute, orchestra (6 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2015
Marmæle, cello, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, harp, percussion, strings), 2016
p. p. w. e. i., euphonium, small orchestra (flute, 2 oboes, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, French horn, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 2016
Gúþkræft, symphonic band, 2017
Mumpsimus, symphonic band, 2017
Bælkræft, symphonic band, 2018
Bælsiþ, oboe, small orchestra (15 players), 2018
Rawgabbiting, piano, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, 3 percussion, strings), 2020
Niwfængel, small orchestra (14 players), 2020
Ægide, small orchestra (14 players), 2021
Vóren, clarinet, string orchestra, 2021
Elgar, piano, small orchestra (13 players), 2022
Weimar-rapsodi, small orchestra (14 players), 2022
Flotsam, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2023
Cairns, piano, small orchestra (13 players), 2023
Vêrfolne, violin, small orchestra (14 players), 2024
Ljøske, large orchestra (8 winds, 10 brass, piano, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2025
Vurm, small orchestra (14 players), 2025
CHAMBER MUSIC:
...und was sie stillt..., clarinet, cello, piano, 1992
Piano Trio, violin, cello, piano, 1994
Interrupted Cycles, flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1996
Bryllupsmusikk for Sverre og Anne Elisabeth, oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 French horns, trumpet, 2 trombones, 1997
Phylloxera [fy-]: se vinlus, 4 saxophones, 1998
sul K – eclectic/euphoric paraphrases in memoriam Billy Mackenzie, string quartet, 1998
1-2-3 Happy Happy Happy!, piano, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo], oboe, clarinet, bassoon, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 1998
Charm, string quartet, 1998
Strain, clarinet, 1998
Darey Tilih!, string quartet, 1998
Straying, trombone, 1998
(Oh no, not) Tripe AGAIN!, violin, viola, cello, 1999
Dead Kitten in the Trash, violin, piano, 1999
Odnupo, violin, cello, 1999
Aztec Snap, string quartet, 2000
Homer's Groove, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, 2000
Donkey Shot, piano, ensemble (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 2000
Spoof Spiral, clarinet, 2001
Spoof Spiral 2, accordion, 2 violins, viola, cello, 2001
Beware of Darkness, string quartet, 2002
Tortuous, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 2002
Gawky Jabber, French horn, violin, piano, 2003
Iffy Daffadowndilly, violin, cello, piano, 2004
You Got the Sliver, 4 saxophones, 2005
Gust, viola, double bass, 2006
Slow Dive, guitar, violin, 2007
Good News from Odessa, clarinet, 2007 (collaboration with Rolf Borch; version of Bad News from the Desert [Deep Pain of the Dung Beetle])
Lød, 2 guitars, 2007
Mago, oboe, 2008
Luscious Gall, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 2009
Snotolf en Bonte lipvis, clarinet, piano, 2009
Mooncough, flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, vibraphone, percussion, 2009
Jiljo, violin, piano, 2010
Grinzing, violin, cello, piano, 2010
Shark Feet, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, piano, percussion, 2010
Eno, flute, clarinet, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, 2010
Hoof, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 2010
Crop, flute, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2010
Poliounease, violin, viola, piano, 2011
Yacky Gut Fur, Sour Beehives, French horn, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, percussion, 2011
Beak Groove, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trombone, 2011
Aloof, flute, clarinet, violin, 2012
A Bug's Knees, bass clarinet, French horn, viola, piano, marimba, 2012
A few Lines (and Some Dots), violin, cello, 2012
An den Saßöbel, 9 double basses, 2012
Skamrek, oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 French horns, trumpet, 2 trombones, 2012
Drop, flute, clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), piano, 2013 (also version as Drip, Drip, [Drip], flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 2016)
Backwaters, flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, guitar, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2013
Moray – (The Piece Formerly Known as Phekph Piphtolph), trombone, cello, piano, 2013
Moon-Faced, Starry-Eyed, cello, piano, 2013
Earburn, violin, cello, 2013
Sloughs, clarinet, cello, piano, 2013
Gimilen, flute, oboe, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 2014
Ördög Örög, French horn, violin, piano, 2014
Trå, bass clarinet, guitar, cello, piano, percussion, 2015
Þhefþ, clarinet, alto saxophone, bass trombone, 2015
Løen, contrabass clarinet, 2016
Toe Nibbler, piccolo, 2 flutes, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, trumpet, trombone, 2016
Bælþræk, oboe, violin, viola, cello, 2016
Wræþþ, 4 saxophones, 2016, revised 2018
Æfnian, flute, guitar, 2017
Hæfek, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, guitar, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2017
Karol, string quartet, 2017
Æfen, violin, cello, piano, 2018
Bælblæse, flute, clarinet, violin, piano, percussion, 2018
Niþkræft, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2018
Popping, flute, clarinet, piano, xylophone, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 2018
Fæþem, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2022
Lÿjask, soprano saxophone, guitar, viola, cello, vibraphone, 2023
CHORAL:
An den langen Lüssen, 6 mixed voices, symphonic band, 2010
VOCAL:
T-t-trouble in Uruk – A Pilot Opera (text from nonsense syllables), 2 sopranos, bass-baritone, clarinet, trombone, violin, viola, double bass, piano, percussion, 2003
Ibsens Smårips, soprano, small orchestra (5 winds, French horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion, strings), 2006
The Hole Story (text by Fakhruddin As'ad Gurgani [English translation]), soprano, clarinet, cello, 2009
Cadduga yn Canu, soprano, bass clarinet, guitar, cello, piano, percussion, 2009
Vis og Ramin-skisse (text by Fakhruddin As'ad Gurgani [English translation]), soprano, countertenor, santur (hammered dulcimer from the Middle East), piano, 2010
Åsta, soprano, tenor, bass, 2 flutes, oboe, 4 clarinets, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, 3 French horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, 3 percussion, 2012
Meditasjon over Georges de La Tour XVII (text by Paal-Helge Haugen), soprano, piano, 2016
Tre songar frå Paal-Helge Haugens Meditasjonar over Georges de La Tour (text by Paal-Helge Haugen), soprano, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2016
Draumkvedet (text from the poem Draumkvedet), baritone, large orchestra (8 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2016
Søppelsolen – Memorabilia, baritone, small orchestra (14 players), 2019
PIANO:
Residue, 1997
#8# (funny funny me), 1998
Dandy Garbage (Version 2.1), 1999
uGsUeMd, 2000
OOZE, 2000
Dregs, 2005
Babwanis Tasmania Puzzle, 2009
Nordlys, 2024
FILM SCORE (DIRECTOR):
Half-Pint Pygmy, 2 clarinets, trumpet, piano, percussion, 2 violins, cello, 2001 (animation; Tex Avery)
ARRANGEMENTS:
War Song (Culture Club), female voice, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, piano, 3 percussion, strings), 2010
Waiting for Charlie (Burt Bacharach), 2 voices, string orchestra, 2011
Ey Asheghan (Javid Afsari Rad), tenor, flute, guitar, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, piano, 3 percussion, strings), 2011 (collaboration with Javid Afsari Rad)
Torke Shirazi (Javid Afsari Rad), tenor, santur, drum kit, large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, 2 percussion, strings), 2011 (collaboration with Javid Afsari Rad)
Warszawa (David Bowie), orchestra/large orchestra (9 winds, 11 brass, harp, timpani, percussion, strings), 2016
Nymphea Alba (Spunk), mixed chorus, symphonic band, 2020
Jeg har så lun en hytte (Elling Hansen, Ane Korsnes), alto, cello, 2021
Domedagsslåtten (Hallvard T. Bjørgum), small orchestra (14 players), 2022
DISCOGRAPHY
Schatten (original version). Christian Eggen/Trondheim Symfoniorkester og Opera (Aurora: ACD4975, 1995)
...und was sie stillt.... BIT20 Ensemble (Hemera Music: HCD2909, 1995)
The Dangerous Kitten (original version); Schatten (original version); Charm; Interrupted Cycles; Dandy Garbage. Sverre Riise, trombone; Christian Eggen/Cikada Ensemble, Oslo Sinfonietta, Trondheim Symfoniorkester og Opera (Aurora: ACD5012, 1999)
Odnupo. Kyberia (Simax Classics: PSC1212, 1999)
Phylloxera [fy-]: se vinlus. Saxofon Concentus (Simax Classics: PSC1200, 2000)
1-2-3 Happy Happy Happy!. Asbjørn Schaathun/Stavanger Samtidsensemble (Aurora: ACD5023, 2001)
Darey Tilih!; Aztec Snap. Ametri String Quartet (Aurora: ACD5025, 2001)
Bryllupsmusikk for Sverre og Anne Elisabeth. Thomas Rimul/Ensemble Ernst (Euridice: EUCD20, 2002)
Donkey Shot. MiNensemblet (Euridice: EUCD28, 2004)
Beware of Darkness. Arditti String Quartet (Aurora: ACD5035, 2004)
Dead Kitten in the Trash. Sigyn Fossnes, violin; Einar Henning Smebye, piano (Aurora: ACD5036, 2005)
Bad News from the Desert (Deep Pain of the Dung Beetle). Rolf Borch, clarinet; Peter Szilvay/Norwegian Army Band Bergen (Aurora: ACD5053, 2007)
Gust. Catherine Bullock, viola; Dan Styffe, double bass (Simax Classics: PSC1288, 2008)
Mad Cap Tootling; Wet Blubber Soup; Gust; Low Jive. Peter Herresthal, violin; Catherine Bullock, viola; Øystein Birkeland, cello; Dan Styffe, double bass; Rolf Gupta, Peter Szilvay/Oslo-Filharmonien (Simax Classics: PSC1278, 2009)
Mad Cap Tootling. Peter Herresthal, violin; Rolf Gupta/Oslo-Filharmonien (Aurora: ACD5066, 2011)
Slow Dive. Thomas Kjekstad, guitar; Lars-Erik ter Jung, violin (Fabra: FBRCD-09, 2011)
Snowblind. Bendik Foss, viola; Torodd Wigum/Trondheim Sinfonietta (Øra Fonogram: OF016, 2011)
Zvezdochka in Orbit. Ernst Simon Glaser, cello; Peter Szilvay/Norwegian Navy Band Bergen (Aurora: ACD5063, 2012)
Sunburst; Bury My Heart at Katnosa; Fierce Kentucky Mothers of Doom (second version). Thomas Kjekstad, amplified guitar; Marius Hesby, trombone; Sverre Riise, trombone; Magnus Loddgard, piano; Thomas Rimul/Kringkastingsorkesteret (Aurora: ACD5069, 2013)
Moray – (The Piece Formerly Known as Phekph Piphtolph); The Dangerous Kitten (original version). Sverre Riise, trombone; Emery Cardas, cello; Sigstein Folgerø, piano; Christian Eggen/Oslo Sinfonietta (Aurora: ACD5081, 2015)
Meditasjon over Georges de La Tour XVII. Elisabeth Holmertz, soprano; Kenneth Karlsson, piano (Lawo Classics: LWC1217, 2022)
Marmæle; Mørkgånga. Marianne Baudouin Lie, cello; Kai Grinde Myrann/Trondheim Symfoniorkester og Opera (Lawo Classics: LWC1245, 2022)
Bælþræk; Bælsiþ. Marion Walker, oboe; Sara Övinge, violin; Anders Rensvik, viola; Gunnar Hauge, cello; Ensemble Ernst (Lawo Classics: LWC1259, 2023)
Wræþþ. NoXaS (Lawo Classics: LWC1278, 2024)