Magnus Granberg

Magnus Granberg is a composer and performer working at an intersection between contemporary chamber music and improvisation. He is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Born in Umeå in 1974, he studied saxophone and improvisation at the University of Gothenburg and in New York in his late teens and early twenties. Self-taught as a composer, he formed his own ensemble Skogen in 2005 trying to integrate experiences, methods and materials from various traditions of improvised and composed musics into a new modus operandi. Now mainly working with the ensemble Skogen and the newly formed Skuggorna och ljuset, while also writing music on commission for different ensembles and projects. He is also active as an improvisor in different contexts, mainly playing the clarinet.

His music has been performed in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, England, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia, broadcast by public radio channels in England (BBC Radio 3 and 6), Germany (SWR 2), Sweden (SR P2), Estonia, Slovenia,  Serbia, Hungary and the United States, and has been published by the British record label Another Timbre.

Recent work includes a commission from Another Timbre and Ensemble Grizzana and collaborations with musicians such as David Sylvian, Christoph Schiller and the Swiss duo Diatribes.

He has in the last decade also, more or less regularly, collaborated with musicians such as Angharad Davies, Tisha Mukarji, Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Anna Lindal, Kristine Scholz, Rhodri Davies, Simon Allen, Christoph Schiller and Ko Ishikawa.

Ist gefallen in den Schnee (1-2 violins, cello, piano, vibraphone/crotales, 1-2 percussionists, 1-2 live electronics), Duration ca 60 minutes. (2010.)

Despairs Had Governed Me Too Long (1-2 violins, cello, prepared piano, vibraphone/crotales, 1-2 percussionists, 1-2 live electronics, sho). Duration ca 56 minutes. (2012).

Would Fall From the Sky, Would Wither and Die (clarinet in Bb, violin, cello, prepared piano, percussion). Duration ca 45 minutes. (2013).

When Heedlessly Falling (clarinet in Bb, violin, cello, prepared piano, percussion). Duration ca 40 minutes. (2013-2014.)

How Deep is the Ocean, How High is the Sky? (2 bass recorders, baroque violin, bass viol, chitarrone, spinet, prepared piano, percussion, live electronics). Duration ca 60 minutes. (2014).

Nattens skogar (1-2 violins, cello, harp, prepared piano, vibraphone, 1-2 percussionists, 1-2 live-electronics). Duration ca 60 minutes. (2015).

How Vain Are All Our Frail Delights? (alto flute, clarinet in Bb, 2 violins, cello, double bass, prepared zither, prepared dulcimer/glass harmonica, prepared piano, celesta). Duration ca 40 minutes. (2016).

Es schwindelt mir, es brennt mein Eingeweide (baroque violin, bass viol, spinet, prepared piano, percussion, live electronics). Duration ca 60 minutes. (2017).