I first came across Torstein’s music when I played his Arctic Funk with my youth band in West Lothian, Scotland. His writing for brass band is adventurous, progressive and colourful - often with a catchy groove thrown in for good measure! However his compositional abilities extend way beyond our genre and he is in great demand across the musical spectrum, having written extensively for orchestra, choir, wind band and chamber ensemble.

Torstein comes from Lofoten in the far north of Norway. In his formative years, he was a student in Bergen at both the Greig Academy and the city’s University. As a student and young graduate, Torstein wrote extensively for the brass and wind bands in the region, including for the Norwegian Army Band and Manger Musikklag.

One of his early pieces for brass band, Circius: Wind of the North, was recorded by David King and Black Dyke Band on the disc, Essence of Time, which was an important catalyst in bringing his music into the ‘brass band mainstream’. He has not looked back since.

Torstein was notably commissioned to write the set test for the 2003 European Championships in Bergen and he comments that this work - Aubade: Dawn Song of the Birds - is an example of how his music became increasingly complex and multi-layered (I personally like this work because it opens with an extensive and challenging baritone cadenza - wonderful!). He is constantly in demand across a vast range of genres and has notably been commissioned for the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra and Christian Lindberg.

As well as having an international compositional profile, Torstein also teaches at Manger Folkhogskule and conducts many school and amateur orchestras. He consciously chose to remain involved in music education and community music-making because he believes that composing is “a kind of social activity,” and places great value on the fact that “composers (and artists in general) play an important role in the society.”

Whilst choosing eight discs for his fantasy Desert Island, Torstein admitted that he did not find it easy at all! Nonetheless, he kindly persevered and has produced the following selections, which are as wide-ranging and thought-provoking as his musical identity...