Selected works

Music by Joel Engström to the poem "Förklaring" by swedish poet Karin Boye. Performed at Västerås Conerthall 2020.

Mezzosoprano - Emelie Thoor
Piano - Olga Tomilina

lyrics:
I din skönhet sänkt
ser jag livet förklarat
och den mörka gåtans svar uppenbarat

I din skönhet sänkt
bedja jag vill
världen är helig ty du är till

andlös av klarhet, ljusfördränkt
ville jag dö hos dig
i din skönhet sänkt.

-Karin Boye

I din skönhet sänkt

Composers workshop with the Baltic Youth Philharmonic

Sprickor

Premier performance by Ensemble Recherche (live) 21 sept 2013, Freiburg, Germany. Dedicated to Ensemble Recherche (fl, ob, kl, perc, 2pno, vln, vla, vlc)

Metric Dance

Om Människan (About Man) - Chamberopera, music by Joel Thoor Engström and text and stage direction by Linda Mallik, is a contemplation of mankind from different perspectives; above and below.

In her "heaven simulator" sits God, abandoned and disoriented with her last angel.

The angel broadcasts praises from earth to keep God's spirits high, but filters all things that might disturb the peace. On earth we meet a pig, determinally headed towards the animals great conference about man.  The pig is carrying her thesis which shows that man is abusing her power on earth. To gain legitimasy and authority in her demand for the abolition of mankind - the pig decides to ask God for help.

The performance experiments with scenic expressions and with dissolving the line between musical theatre and spoken theatre. The singers and musicians sometimes control the flow of the music through electronics. The audience is seated on the stage with the performance surrounding them.

The opera was premiered at Folkoperan in Stockholm in 2019 and was produced by Mallik/Engström/Ardelius, in collaboration with Folkoperan and with support from Konstnärsnämnden, Musikverket and the City of Stockholm.

Idea, script and stage direction: Linda Mallik. Music: Joel Thoor Engström, Costume and scenery: Anna Ardelius. Singers: Åsa Jäger, Monica Danielsson, Wiktor Sundqvist. Orchestra: KammarensembleN

Jag Dammar I De Låsta Rummen 2

Excerpt from a concert in Västerås, september 2017, with the fantastic duo SYMBIO. Check out their music here: http://www.symbiomusic.com/

Prelude for an Anthem (excerpt)

joelengstrom