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COMPOSING SOUND ART AND SOUND DESIGN

FOR PERFORMING ARTS

Weld Extended (2023)

Choreographer Virpi Pahkinen has worked with dancer William Nylind in a solo format. The invitation to the choreographer was to share his practice and create choreographic material linked to 12 minutes of music composed by Swedish composer Tomas Björkdal.

Choreography: Virpi Pahkinen

Dancer: William Nylind

Composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Virpi Pahkinen

Världskulturmuseet, Existens (2023-2025)

An exhibition about the big questions in life.

We have given meaning to death in different ways and created rites to deal with grief and wonder. In the exhibition Existence, the World Culture Museum addresses these questions through different cultures from different parts of the world.

Producer: Johan Rödström

Sounddesign: Tomas Björkdal

THNGS UNTLD (2023)

"What happens if we stand in the gap between what we can and what we cannot decipher?" 

"Two dancers investigate how digitization affects our bodies and our gestures take on new meanings in the time paradox of parallel worlds."

Concept, choreography and performer: Ulrika Larsen and Magdi Beky Winnerstam

Composition/sounddesign and video projections: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Styx Lament (2023)

Exhibition at Moonah Art Centre with Julia Adzuki & Patrick Dallard

Styx Lament is a performance ritual that took place in clear-felled and old-growth forest in the Styx Valley, Lutruwita / Tasmania, in November 2019

Concept: Julia Adzuki

Multichannel sound: Tomas Björkdal

Video art/documentation: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Sensuous repair: an ecosomatic investigation (2023)

In the interactive performance installation, Karolin Kent and Tuva Hildebrand invite the visitor to practice collective repair.

Choreography & performer: Tuva Hildebrand & Karolin Kent

Concept: Tuva Hildebrand & Karolin Ken

Composition for headphones and room: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Karolin Kent

Skymningsfåglar (2023)

Dans performance with multichannel sound.

" A sound and movement installation where we examine the darkness and the importance of the night for living things. Through the soundscape, we are transported to the dark nature where eyes and ears, sense buds and emotional bodies alert us in the night".

Director and choreography: Katja Seitajoki

Multichannel composition: Tomas Björkdal

Dansers: Ellen Söderhult, Noah Hellwig och Lisen Pousette

Photo: José Figueroa

Timescape garden (2022)

A concert with multichannel sound-improvisation performed at Timescape garden, Syltenberget during The cultural night of Norrköping.

Inspired by the project of making a biodiversity micropark/wildflower garden on Norrköping’s Syltenberget.

Concept: Anna Asplind

Multichannel sound improvisation: Tomas Björkdal

Video projection: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Min stadspark (2022)

A part of Anna Asplinds Dancewalk series. A place specific headphone composition and choreograhy.

Link: https://www.regiondalarna.se/verksamhet/kultur-och-bildning/verksamhetsomraden/bild-och-form/lager-pa-lager/

Concept, choreography, text and voice: Anna Asplind

Headphone composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

House and a sigh (2022)

Multi-channel, live-mix composition performed at

Antenn Sound Art Festival, Ljudtornet, Gnesta.

The audio source is from squeaking wooden parts in an old wooden house.

Multichannel composition and video art: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

New sound images (2022)

Art installation of Helena, Hildur W with big scale projections at Gnesta watertower.

Concept and paintings: Helena Hildur W

Multichannel composition/installation: Tomas Björkdal & Erik peters

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Jag är som skogen fast annorlunda (2021)

Outdoors Multi channel sound, performance and dance for children

Concept and choreography: Katja Seitajoki

Multichannel composition: Tomas Björkdal

Voice: Bengt CW Carlsson

Photo: José Figueroa

Contemplative Shit (2021)

 The Shit Project, Fungus Kingdom, Gnesta

Soundwalk with headphones.

Poetry and soundscape transport you through the drains underground, through river systems, history and bacterial life beyond our bodies.

Poetry and voice: Julia Adzuki

Soundscape composition: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Lost in communication - communication lost (2021)

Performance, The Helsingör version

A performance/installation on consumption and communication,

as well as consumption of communication.

Concept: Nordic Trash

Director: Brigitte Christensen

Composition and video art: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Charlotte Calberg

Feedback & Noises (2020)

Live-composition with guitars and amplifiers.

Antenn Sound Art Festival, Ljudtornet Gnesta

Live-composition: Tomas Björkdal

Video art: Tomas Björkdal (one of Ljudtornets artistic directors)

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Richard II och framtiden (2020)

Performance, Långsjö Teater, Gnesta

Richard II and the future is an honest discussion in blank verse in two acts about hope, decay and the importance of art in the light of a system shift.

Director: Maria Magdolna Beky Winnerstam

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Almost out of sight (2019)

Dans performance, 3e Våningen, Gothenburg

Almost Out of Sight consists of repeated, patterns, rhythms and movements. These can be perceived as a backwards spell in front of being where the vision was free, open and clear. Now it is foggy and our senses must be sharpened so as not to get lost again.

Choreography: Anna Koch

Composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Alla mina hem (2019)

Performance for children, Uusi Teatteri, Stockholm

All my homes is a show where the friends twist and turn the concept of "home" with the help of play, movement, superpowers and living cartoon characters.

Director: Katja Seitajoki

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Kai Kangassalo

If the walls could speak (2019)

Sound installation at Antenn Sound Art Festival, Gnesta

Concept and Installation, Ljudtornet, Gnesta

Ljudtornet (The sound tower) is a not-for-profit organisation and platform for experiemental sound, art and music that takes place in the old watertower in Gnesta, with an annual festival ANTENN and other events.

Photo: Julia Adzuki

Performing Underscore (2023)

A dance performance that celebrates the 50th anniversary of contact improvisation and one of its founders Nancy Stark Smith!

Professional dancers and a dance philosopher in the form of improvisation investigate the laws of gravity and communicate through touch, radical autonomy, and collective consciousness. 

Concept and curator: Tuva Hildebrand

Live improvision with contact-microphones: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Johannes Tegnér

Dear Earthling (2022)

Dear Earthling is an interactive one-to-one performance, guiding you through a ritual to bring you closer to nature’s cycles of life, death and transformation

part of Anna Asplinds Dancewalk series. A place specific choreograhy with headphone composition.

Concept: Tuva Hildebrnd

Multichannel composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Olle Enqvist

Lost in communication - communication lost (2022)

A performance/installation on consumption and communication,

as well as consumption of communication.

Performance, The Gnesta version

Concept: Nordic Trash

Multichannel composition and video art: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Verklig annanhet (2021)

Art exhibition of Carina Marklund at Konstfrämjandet Sörmland

Concept and art: Carina Marklund

Composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Johanna Törnqvist

Shitopia (2021)

The Shit Project, Fungus Kingdom, Gnesta

Outdoors multichannel voice composition 

Shitopia is a spoken choir piece, with text extracted from the scientific report ‘Gnissel i Maskineriet’ (Screech in the Machinery) written by Björn Wallsten, Malin Ideland, Tora Holmberg och Sebastian Abrahamsson.

Voice: Julia Adzuki

Text: Karin Lindström Kolterud

Multichannel composition: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Composition through de-composition (2021)

Sound installation at Antenn Sound Art Festival, Gnesta

Concept and Installation, Ljudtornet, Gnesta

Multiple tape recorders, microphones and extended tape loops interacts with

the audience and performers during Antenn sound festival.

Ljudtornet (The sound tower) is a not-for-profit organisation and platform for experiemental sound, art and music that takes place in the old watertower in Gnesta, with an annual festival ANTENN and other events.

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

969 m i Borlänge (2021)

A part of Anna Asplinds Dancewalk series. A place specific choreographic headphone composition.

Concept, choreography, text and voice: Anna Asplind

Headphone composition: Tomas Björkdal

Sång till Ämtan (2020)

Composition/installation 

Rural movement, Unexpected Movements, Sjösala

Artistic project manager: Anna Asplind

Composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Anna Asplind

URKarnas värld (Urkopplad) (2020)

Performance at KTH Reaktorhallen, Stockholm

The world of the URKs is a immersive performing arts experience, which places the audience at the center of the action. Together with the show's underground characters, visitors find themselves up on stage, where they move freely among sounding pipe instruments, film projections, circus performers and musicians. The story unfolds under, over, between and around them.

Långsjö Teater, Gnesta

Director: Maria Magdolna Beky Winnerstam

 Soundmix and projections: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: David Winnerstam

Love walks (2019)

Place specific performance with headphones

Love walks is a choreographed walk outdoors in the city.

We are guided through inner rooms and through rooms for meeting others.

In specific situations around love, we examine together what love can be and how love can arise.

Concept: Mold

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdall (a part of Mold)

Photo: Trinidad Carillo

Water-walk (2019)

Headphone-performance at Antenn Sound Art Festival, Gnesta

Inspired by the water who still runs under and through the old watertower.

Concept: Ljudtornet

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Ta det piano/Take it easy (2018)

Ta det piano,  Antenn Sound Art Festival, Gnesta

Multi-channel, live-mix composition performed at

Antenn Sound Art Festival, Ljudtornet, Gnesta.

The audio source is from an old shipp piano.

Multi-channel composition and Video art: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Kärrkosmos (2018)

Choreographed place specific sound installation with headphones.

By camouflaging themselves in the swamp, the participant gets to investigate the flora and fauna as well as all the swamp's mysterious sounds and movements. We ask whether, by camouflaging oneself as an animal, an insect or a plant, one can approach nature and challenge the perspectives that give man dominion over nature. In a time of climate challenges, we unite artistic, scientific and philosophical perspectives in a choreographed sound installation.

Concept and director: Katja Seitajoki

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Götafors gråter (2016)

Sound & light installetion at Culture night in Kvarnbyn, Gothenburg

Concept: Tomas Björkdal and Johan Rödström

Sound: Tomas Björkdal

Light and video: Johan Rödström

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Konsten att falla (2015)

Teater Galeasen, Stockholm

About Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale och Edith Bouvier Beale.

Text: Sara Stridsberg

Director: Richard Günther

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Dan Hansson

1288 m i Uppsala (2015)

A part of Anna Asplinds Dancewalk series.

Place specific choreographic headphone composition.

Concept, choreography, text and voice: Anna Asplind

Headphone composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

In between bodies (2015)

Performance.

The Ecological Theatre at The Biological Museum, Stockholm

In Between Bodies (Kroppar i mellanrum) is a part of the project

The Ecological Theatre (Den Ekologiska Teatern)

"In Between Bodies springs from a 6 hours long performance which took place inside the habitat diorama during Kulturnatten 25th of April 2015. The practice is developed throughout the time spent inside the exhibition, a constructed reality created by Gustaf Kolthoff and Bruno Liljefors."

Concept: Anna Asplind and Daniel AlmgrenRecén

Live composition: Tomas Björkdall

Foto: André Wunstorf

Flyktdjur (2016)

Teater Galeasen, Stockholm

"How is individual development affected in a structure that is created to protect the image of the "perfect" family?"

Text: Christina Ouzounidis

Director: Natalie Ringler

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Foto: Mats Bäcker

DEEKTE (2015)

DEEKTE is a part of the project The Ecological Theatre (Den Ekologiska Teatern) and is an art and performance evening at the Biological Museum in Stockholm during the Culture Night in Stockholm.

"Art installations, landscapes of sound and light, readings and dancers who move among the stuffed animals infront of impressive backdrops painted by the famous naturalistic artist Bruno Liljefors."

Concept: Anna Asplind and Daniel AlmgrenRecén

Live composition: Tomas Björkdall

Foto: André Wunstorf

462 m i Nyhamnen (2014)

A part of Anna Asplinds Dancewalk series.

A place specific choreographic headphone composition.

Concept, choreography, text and voice: Anna Asplind

Headphone composition: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Near that place (2013)

Performance, MDT, Atalante and Dansstationen

NEAR THAT PLACE is a performance that tries to create its own reality. It takes its origin in the questions of belonging, home and memory in relation to nomadism. What does it mean to belong to a place, an environment, a social context when mobility has become the norm?

Concept: Daniel Almgren Rec'en and Johan Forsman

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Märta Thisner

Demoner (2013)

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm

Text: Lars Norén

Director: Hugo Hansén

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Petra Hellberg

Kommer himlen alltid vara blå? (2017)

20 000 m2 choreographed GPS place specific sound installation with headphones. at Mostigshällarna, Söderhamn

Swedish Prison Museum Gävle 

Past and present intertwine, history is actualized and creates connections in time and space. The work raises questions about ideologies, beliefs, fears of the unknown and state violence, but also a dream of a hostel and a lookout tower.

Concept, text and voice: Anna Asplind

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Film/Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Near that place (2016)

Performance at Uferstudios, Berlin

NEAR THAT PLACE is a performance that tries to create its own reality.It takes its origin in the questions of belonging, home and memory in relation to nomadism.What does it mean to belong to a place, an environment, a social context when mobility has become the norm?

Concept: Daniel Almgren Rec'en and Johan Forsman

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Diego

Magiska formler (2016)

Headphone composition

Döden - En utställning om livet, Liljevalchs, Stockholm

Concept och text: Anna Koch

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: 

No square dance (2015)

Festival:Display, Rotundan, The Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm

Chorography and dancer: Anna Koch

Sound: Tomas Björkdal

M M M Mat Mata Matas (2015)

Place specific performance with headphones

M M M  is a choreographed walk outdoors through the forrest.

M M M - Mat Mata Matas is an choreographed outdoor performance that takes place at dusk. "I am guided through the forest. I attend the performance. I will be shown care during my visit. I will be in the forest and I will be part of the forest.

I know that M M M is about food. I will be fed. I'm ready."

Concept: Mold

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal (a part of Mold)

In between the layers (2015)

Interactive sound installation at The Biological Museum, Stockholm

The Ecological Theatre at The Biological Museum, Stockholm

In Between the layers is a part of the project

The Ecological Theatre (Den Ekologiska Teatern)

"The visitors move through a soundscape of text and sound that changes in relation to their own movement and direction in the room. The experience of the museum is given a new dimension where its history and the present moments reflections are co-existing."

Concept: Anna Asplind and Daniel AlmgrenRecén

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdall

Foto: André Wunstorf

Somna sov (2014)

Performance, Skogen

"Have a seat. Please lie down. Feel free to sleep."

"Sömnen är på en gång det mest utsatta av tillstånd och en politisk handling, en provokation och en ofrånkomlig del av vår natur. Sömnen påminner om en cyklisk tillvaro, som en modern och rationell samtid vill övervinna, och bjuder därmed motstånd mot ett instrumentellt förnuft och en konsumism utan gränser." - Jesper Olsson

Concept: Mold

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal (part of Mold)

Photo: Film/foto: Tomas Björkdal

Illusioner (2014)

Teater Galeasen, Stockholm

"The play is an existential drama about our search for permanence. It is also an elegant comedy with a dark undertone. About the big life audit, about our difficulties living in relationships."

Text: Ivan Vyrypaev

Director: Olof Hanson

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Dan Hansson

Skogen tar Kinesiska muren till skogen (2013)

Performance, Skogen, Gothenburg

"Vi låter restaurang Kinesiska Muren bli vår portal till en av stadens osynliga berättelser. Genom att träda in i rummet rör vi oss från stadsrummets anonymitet ner i det specifika och personliga. I en buss tar vi oss sedan ut mot skogen; från det fysiska och fasta, till en plats där stadens arkitektur och vi själva för ett ögonblick svävar fritt."

Concept: Johan Forsman and Johan Rödström

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Higab/Hans Wretling

Döden (2013)

Performance, Skogen, Gothenburg

"Come. Now you die. But don't be afraid. You return"

Concept: Mold

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal (part of Mold)

Photo: Johan Rödström

Natascha Kampusch (2012)

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm

Text: Ulrika Kärnborg

Director: Hugo Hansén

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Petra Hellberg

Persona (2011)

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm

Text: Ingmar Bergman

Director: Hugo Hansén

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Carl Thorborg

Scented letters (2011)

Dans performance

Aktör & vänner and Atalante, Gothenburg

"A fleeing dream, the glittering diva, the little one and I rocked in rhythm and out of rhythm with the noise of life outside. It was now, here and then that it happened, that matters forever."

Concept and dans: Gilda Stillbäck

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Tantsnusk (2010)

Performance

Inkonst, Malmö

Concept: Arena Baubo

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: José Figueroa

Prostitutionstribunalen (2009)

Performance

Teater Tribunal, Stockholm

Concept: Arena Baubo

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: José Figueroa

Svenska Torskar 09 (2009)

Performance

Dramalabbet, Stockholm

Concept: Arena Baubo

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: José Figueroa

Arabian night (2008)

Performance

Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts

"On a warm summer night, in a high-rise concrete building, five people cross each other's paths."

Text: Roland Schimmelpfennig

Director: Rasmus Lindgren

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Chris Erlback

Nya processen (2007)

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm

Text: Peter Weiss

Director: Hugo Hansén

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Mikaela Westerholm

Brocas fält (2006)

Performance

Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts

Director: Hugo Hansén

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Grodden (2012)

Performance, Skogen, Gothenburg

"For some time we have investigated the preschool as a place and structure, and with Grodden as our starting point, we are now embarking on a journey through the preschool's rituals and routines."

"The orders of reality are displaced and create entrances to a different experience of the city."

Concept: Johan Forsman and Johan Rödström

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Iris Piers

Skogen tar Weld till skogen (2012)

Performance, Skogen and Weld, Stockholm

"Weld is moved and takes shape as a shadowy imprint in the middle of the forest. In a bus we get out of the city together. Once there, the theater's social ritual is staged in an empty space where the art and we are allowed to float freely for a moment.."

Concept: Johan Forsman and Johan Rödström

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: 

Sjömanskyrkan inombords (2011)

Performance at Sjömanskyrkan

Aktör & vänner, Gothenburg

"Visitors are taken, one by one, through a subtle throng of memories, interpretations and analyzes generated by the house."

Concept: Johan Forsman and Johan Rödström

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Tomas Björkdal

Insulinom (2010)

Performance

Aktör & vänner, Gothenburg

"Register for a performance that makes you sick; be part of simulated symptoms, enjoy our careful treatment and take the full road to convalescence, spa department and registering out. Welcome to The Central Clinic!"

Concept: Johan Rödström and Johan Forsman

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Oskar Allerby

Hamlet Bitte Warten (2009)

Installation, performance, multimedia, dans inspired by Hamlet.

Aktör & vänner and The Bitte Wartencollective, Gothenburg

"The curtain will not rise, there will be no beginning, middle, end, and no applause."

Concept: Aktör & vänner 

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Zoo (2009)

Performance

"The audience is invited to a contemplative and playful journey that takes place in a huge greenhouse. The journey leads to both inside, outside and the outer space. The journey-mates will be a bunch of insects, thirsty for love."

Concept: Johan Forsman and Johan Rödström

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Petra von Kants bittra tårar (2008)

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm

Text: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Director: Hugo Hansén

Sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin

Svårast är det med de värdelöse (2007)

Teater VästerNorrland, Sundsvall

Text: Rasmus Lindgren

Director: Rasmus Lindgren

Composition and sound design: Tomas Björkdal

Photo: Lia Jacobi