Danish composer, conductor and pianist Qilaatersorneq in the language of the Inuit, is the name for the Ritual Drum Dance. In the musical universe of Søren Nils Eichberg (f. 1973), Qilaatersorneq is the title of his prize-winning violin concerto, which is inspired by the Inuit Drum Dance. It has been called ‘a sort of dance macabre shamanique’, ‘a extremely physical piece’ as well as ‘a great work with beautiful harmonies’. Despite his young age, Søren Nils Eichberg has already made his mark on the Danish and the European musical scene with a number of large-scaled musical works such as the Qalaatersorneq violin concerto (2001), the Symphony nr. 1 ’Stürzten wir uns ins Feuer’ (2005), and the Cello Concerto (2006). Søren Nils Eichberg was born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1973 and grew up in Denmark. He is educated as a pianist and conductor, and self-taught as a composer. He won the first prize in the Queen Elisabeth International Competition for Composers in Brussels in 2001 with Qilaatersorneq, Since Søren Nils Eichberg has continued to manifest his position as one of the leading Scandinavian composers of his generation. His works has been performed all over the world, and Søren Nils Eichberg has among others received commissions from the International ARD Music Competition (D), Ensemble Modern (D), Radio Symphony Orchestra Saarbrücken (D), Odense Symphony Orchestra (DK) and the International Festival in Bergen (N). In 2007 Søren Nils Eichberg received the three-year grant of the Danish Arts Foundation with the citation “Søren Nils Eichberg knows the composers craft, and has a sense of drama which especially finds expression in his large-scaled works. By giving him the three-year grant the Committee for Classical Music wants to state his position as an exceptionally gifted young Scandinavian composer.” By Malene Wichmann August 2007

In 2001 Søren Nils Eichberg won the Queen Elisabeth International Competition for Composers (Brussels) with Qilaatersorneq, a violin concerto inspired by the Inuit Drum Dance. Read more about Søren Nils Eichberg at: Søren Nils Eichberg’s personal website Universal Edition Wien