Kristian Blak (born 1947) is a Danish composer, musician, and record executive based in the Faroe Islands.
Early life Kristian Blak was born in Jutland, Denmark, in 1947.
He moved to the Faroe Islands in 1974, where he has written most of his musical works.
Career Blak is the founder of the Nordic musical ensemble Yggdrasil (named after the world tree known as Yggdrasil). He has worked with sounds from Faroese nature in several compositions. These include concerts in caves and other natural "concert halls" in the Faroe Islands. The Faroese Tourist Board He has composed solo instrumental works, chamber music, choral works and symphonic music,Composers.fo A Faroese website with information about Faroese composers for example the ballad Harra Pætur og Elinborg.Harra Pætur og Elinborg on iTunes
In 2010 Queen Margrethe of Denmark visited the Faroe Islands, and one of the events she visited was a grotto concert in Klæmintsgjógv (Gorge of Klæmint) by Blak and other musicians. The cave is high, and the sea in the cave is around deep. There are some places inside the cave where the musicians can stand with their instruments and give a concert to the audience in boats.Captain.nordlysid.com About the grotto concerts (in English)
Blak is the chief executive officer of Tutl, which is the leading record label in the Faroe Islands.Tutl.com
Recognition and awards 2002:Faroese Literature Prize, for his work with music in the Faroe IslandsBBS.fo Virðisløn M.A. Jacobsens fyri mentanaravrik 2002 (in Faroese)
2011 Heiðursgáva Landsins (Prize of Honour from the Faroese Ministry of Culture) – DKK 75 000 The National Faroese Radio and Television (in Faroese)
Musical works 2001 PINIARTUT with Tellu Virkkala, Rasmus Lyberth and Ville Kangas 1999 24 PRÉLUDES 1998 KLÆMINT 1997 SHALDER GEO 1991 RAVNATING 1990 FIRRA 1989 ADDEQ 1988 ANTIFONALE 1987 FJAND with Svend Bjerg 1984 KINGOLØG 1983 SJÓMANSRÍMUR 1979 SNJÓUGLAN
Albums Solo albums 2005 Úr Holminum, 8 tracks, Tutl 2005 Snjóuglan, 10 Tracks, Tutl 1999 Klæmint Tutl 1992 Harra Pætur og ElinborgAllMusic Harra Pætur og Elinborg 1991 Ravnating, 8 tracks, TutlAllMusic
Yggdrasil 2004 LIVE AT RUDOLSTADT 2002 YGGDRASIL 1984/1995/2000 CONCERTO GROTTO & DRANGARAllMusic Concerto Grotto og Drangar 1988 BRØYTINGAR Koncept: Ole Wich 1983/85 THE FOUR TOWERS & HEYGAR OG DREYGAR 1982 RAVNATING 1981 DEN YDERSTE Ø
Spælimenninir 2003 Malargrót 1996 Flóð Og Fjøra 1986 Hinvegin 1984 Rekaviður 1980 Burturav
Spælimenninir í Hoydølum Spælimenninir í Hoydølum is the name of a former musical ensemble, they took name after a place name in Tórshavn called Hoydalar, the High School is located there. 1984 Á ferð 1987 Umaftur 1977 Spælimenninir í Hoydølum
Music for children 2003 Sóljudansir 1997 Øll hava veingir 1985 Syng bara við 1983 Nósi 1977 Nu ska' vi u å sejle við Kræklingum og øðrum.
Honour 2024 - Best Initiative Prize for arranging the music festival Summartónar of over 1600 concerts over the last 30 years. 2020 - Special award at the Faroese Music Awards
See also Music of the Faroe Islands
References
Further reading Kirsten Brix, Erhard Jacobsen, Ole Wich (ed.): Très bien. Kristian Blak 60 år. Tórshavn: Plátufelagið Tutl, 2007 (126 s., incl. CD)
External links