Requiem for a Star - Cosmic Soundscapes of Destruction and Creation

Requiem for a Star – Cosmic Soundscapes of Destruction and Creation is a work for string quartet and double bass commissioned by the Cikada String Quartet.

Inspired by the life cycle of stars, the work explores how cosmic processes can be translated into sound. Astronomical observations, images of planetary nebulae and supernova remnants, and a fascination with light that has travelled through space for millions of years form the point of departure for a musical landscape shaped by gradual transformations, fragile textures, and sudden eruptions of energy.

Through a close interplay between composition and improvisation, the work invites listeners to experience time from a different perspective, where creation and dissolution emerge as inseparable parts of the same process.

The work was premiered at Kunstbanken in Hamar in January 2026 and recorded at Sørum Farm in March. The album is currently in production and will be released in 2027.

In October 2025, a glimpse into the artistic process behind the work was presented during a Laboratory concert at Sørum Farm. The video below features an excerpt from the performance.

For a deeper exploration of the ideas and processes behind the work, you can read the essay Requiem for a Star.