"I saw a lot of projects here, and to my mind, no-one else has achieved
this perfect match of musical understanding and performance.”
– Thomas Jordans, Staatskapelle Berlin
"1B1 represents an outstanding vision of how to make classical music
appear young, fresh and juicy.”
– Benjamin Schmid
"So sollte Musik heute gelebt und erlebt werden. Bravo!”
– Clemens
Hagen
"1B1 is an inspirational group
because all the energy Jan Bjøranger has ever wanted, is in this group.”
– Martin
Kuuskmann
”I had the privilege of working with 1B1 at the
opening ceremony when Stavanger was European
Capital of Culture in 2008, and it was a great joy to hear them perform my
music. The ensemble is young and energetic, and combines this energy with
technical proficiency and musical devotion. Jan Bjøranger is an accomplished
leader who manages to extract the very best work from the young musicians.”
–
Gisle Kverndokk
"A highly professional, superb chamber orchestra characterized by
stylistic versatility.”
– Lars Anders Tomter
”Music creates more than sounds and
passionate feelings: it also shapes personalities and lifestyles. Nowhere is
this more evident than in Stavanger, where the ensemble 1b1 and it's
charismatic leader Jan Bjøranger is the driving force in a cultural, artistic
and didactic reorientation.
Together with this wonderful young band I have seen a truly remarkable project
materialise, the world premiere recording of recorder concerti by Chiel
Meijering; I have seen young people growing with the challenges, I have seen
these superb young players take responsibility for each other, I have seen them
becoming friends with a musical style completely unknown to them just days
before, and I have seen them accepting the sometimes really tough circumstances
during long work days... I have seen them grow.
To make music together is a most socialising event: you have to listen to what
the others are 'saying', you yourself have to contribute to the success of the
work you are performing, and you have to respect that work profoundly: without
this combined effort there will be no art. I am convinced that this art of
listening to 'The Other' makes us more tolerant and willing to embrace and
accept other people. It shapes and defines us as human beings.
1b1 is all about art. It allows young players to enter the real world of music
making long before they finish their studies by means of a natural integration
of didactics and performance. I can't help thinking of Antonio Vivaldi and his
orchestra in Venice, which offered young children an education enabling them to
create their own lives regardless of their background. The keyword here is
competence and constant development of one's skills. I saw this happen before
my very eyes during my stay in Stavanger: a remarkable change of performance
and ability to deliver when needed took the ensemble to a truly amazing level.
You will hear it yourself when you listen to the CD.
Music is indeed a society-builder, a power which is uniquely human and more
than anything else shows us who we are. It is time for us musicians to enter
the forefront of everyday life. Look at us: creating our own lives makes us all
artists.”
– Dan Laurin
