Alf Årdal is a distinguished Norwegian violinist, conductor and arranger who began his professional career as a violinist in the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.
He has conducted prominent Norwegian orchestras, performed at the Norwegian Opera, and guest-conducted internationally. Årdal studied under notable mentors at the Norwegian Academy of Music and abroad. His conducting credits include major operas and ballets, while his arrangements have been performed by prestigious ensembles and soloists. Notable recordings include Grieg’s string quartets and Mahler’s Urlicht. Årdal has taught at the Barratt Due Institute of Music since 2001.
Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review, March 2012
You can purchase the arrangements by Alf Årdal.
The transcriptions are provided electronically as PDF files for convenience.
To order these arrangements, please send an email to alf@alfardal.no.
Grieg
String quartet in g minor op. 27
transcribed for string orchestra
String quartet in F major (1891)
transcribed for string orchestra
6 Lyrical Pieces
string orchestra
(Barratt-Due juniororkester)
Arietta op. 12, nr. 1
Vals op. 12, nr. 2
Halling op. 47, nr. 4
Matrosenes Oppsang op. 68, nr. 1
Bestemors menuett op. 68, nr. 2
Småtroll op. 71, nr. 3
Norwegian Folksongs op.66
Norske folkeviser
string orchestra
Det var i min ungdom (Luster, Sogn)
En liten grå mann (Lom)
Bådnlåt (Lom)
Morgon skal du få gifte deg (Lom)
I Ola-dalom, i Ola-kjønn (Østre Slidre)
Ho vesle Astrid vår (Lom)
Jeg går i tusen tanker (Turtagrø)
Gjendines bådnlåt (Lom)
5 songs
soprano and string orchestra
Liden Kirsten op.60 nr. 1 (Krag)
Mens jeg venter op.60 nr. 2 (Krag)
Og jeg vil ha mig en Hjærtenskjær op.60 nr. 5 (Krag)
Langs ei Å op.33 nr. 5 (Vinje)
Ved Rondane op.33 nr. 9 (Vinje)
Mahler
Urlicht
Symphony no. 2
12 cellos (and double bass ad.lib.)
(for Truls Mørk and the cellists of the Oslo Philharmonic)
Sinding
Frühlingsrauschen
symphony orchestra
3-3-3-3 / 4-3-3-1 / pk/ str
Crafted specifically for The Norwegian Wind Ensemble and the Norwegian Armed Forces' Music. All transcriptions are presented in its original key.
Backer Grøndahl
Sommervise op.45.3
2 picc – 2 ob – 3 cl – b.cl – 2 fg //2hn – 0 – 0 – 1tba // hrp - vc (ad lib) cb
Beethoven
Coriolan – overtyre op.62
2fl - 2ob - 4cl + b.cl – 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Fidelio – overtyre op.72
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Brahms
Haydn-variasjoner op.56
2fl (picc) - 2ob – 3cl - b.cl - 2sx- 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn - 1tba // cb // perc - pk
de Falla
El amor brujo:
Danza del Terror
Pantomime
Danza ritual del fuego (Ritual Fire Dance)
2fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 1fg // 3hn - 3tpt - 3tbn -1euf - 1tba// cb // perc – pk
Delibes
Coppelia
Valse des Heures
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx- 2fg // 2hn – 3tpt – 3tbn - 1tba // cb //perc - pk
Glinka
Ruslan og Lyudmila - overtyre
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Gounod
Faust
Variation d’ Hélene
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx- 2fg // 2hn – 2tpt – 3tbn - 1tba // cb //trg
Grieg
Peer Gynt-suite nr.1 op.46
Morgenstemning
Aases død
Anitras dans
I Dovregubbens hall
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //perc - pk
Peer Gynt-suite nr.2 op.55
Peer Gynts heimfart
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl - 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //perc. - pk
Peer Gynt op.23
Peer Gynt og Den grønnkledte
2fl – 2ob - 3cl + b.cl - 2fg // 2hn – 1tpt - 1tba// cb
4 Norske danser op.35
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2bsn // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// db //perc - timp
Symfonisk dans nr.2 op.64.2
2fl (picc) - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn -3tpt – 3tbn -1tba // vc (ad lib.) - cb //perc- pk
Symfonisk dans nr. 3 op.64.3
2fl (picc) - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn -3tpt – 3tbn -1tba //vc (ad lib.) - cb //
perc- pk
Symfonisk dans nr.4 op.64.4
2fl (picc) - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn -3tpt – 3tbn -1tba // cb //perc- pk
Halvorsen
Suite Ancienne op.31
I Intrata
II Air con variazioni
III Sarabande
IV Bourrée
V Gigue
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Maskerade – suite
Holberg-overtyre
Cotillon
Menuett
Hanedansen
Gavotte
Molinasque
Kehraus
Arietta
Passepied
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2bsn // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc- pk
Norske eventyrbilder
Prinsessen kommer ridende på bjørnen
Trollenes inntog i berget det blå
Dans av småtroll
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Mendelssohn
Allegretto un poco agitato
(fra symfoni nr.2 «Lobgesang»)
2fl - 1ob – 3(5)cl + b.cl – 3sx - 1fg // 3hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1euf- 2tba
Minkus
Napoli
Teresina variation
2fl - 2ob - 4cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Don Quixote
Wedding maid variation
2fl - 2ob - 4cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Prokofiev
Romeo og Julie:
Folk Dance
Dance
Masks
Julies variasjon
Aubade
Morning Dance
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2bsn // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn - 1 euf - 1tba// db // perc - timp
Respighi
La Gallina (Fuglene)
2fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 1 sx - 1fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1euf - (1tba)// cb // perc
Rossini
Den tyvaktige skjære – overtyre
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
La Danza
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx- 2fg // 2hn – 3tpt – 3tbn - 1tba // cb //perc - pk
Strauss jr
Sigøynerbaronen - overtyre
2fl - 2ob - 4cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Eine Nacht in Venedig – overtyre
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Leichtes blut, polka schnell
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Unter Donner und Blitz
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx- 2fg // 2hn – 3tpt – 3tbn - 1tba // cb //perc
Svendsen
Norsk rapsodi nr.2 op.22
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Tchaikovsky
Nøtteknekkeren
Snøfnuggenes vals
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //Kor: S+A // perc - pk
Spansk dans
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg// 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Arabisk dans
2fl - 2ob - 4cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 2tbn- 1tba// cb // perc
Russisk dans (Trepak)
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Tveitt
Hardingtonar:
Velkomne med æra
Stavkyrkjestev
Syrgjeleg song um ein tom brednevinsdunk
Hastverksbrudlaup
Storskrytarstev
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Bizet
Perlefiskerne:
Duett
tenor – baryton
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //perc - pk
Arie - L’orage s’est calmé
baryton
2fl – 2ob (1eng hn) - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Gounod
Faust
Serenade Mephistopeles
baryton
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx- 2fg // 2hn – 3tpt – 3tbn - 1tba // cb //pk
Faust
Salut! Demeure chaste et pure
2fl - 1ob – 3(5) cl + b.cl – 2sx- 1fg // 3hn – 1euf - 1tba // pk
Grieg
2 sanger fra «Vinje-sangene» op.33
Langs ei Å
2fl - 2ob -3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 1tba// cb
Vaaren (både G-dur og F-dur)
2fl - 2ob -3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 1tba// db
Den Bergtekne op.32
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn -3tpt – 3tbn -1tba // vc (ad lib.) - cb
Zur Rosenzeit op.48.5
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 1tba // hrp. vc (ad lib.) - cb
Halvorsen
2 Norske danser
nr. 1 D dur
nr. 2 A dur
fiolin solo
2fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 1sx - 1fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1euf- 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Liten danse-suite op.22
Norsk (nr.4)
Ungarsk (nr.5)
fiolin solo
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Kreisler
Liebesleid
fiolin solo
1fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 1fg // 2hn - (1tba) // cb
Liebesfreud
fiolin solo
2fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 1fg // 3hn -3tpt – 3tbn -1euf - 1tba // cb
Mozart
Figaro
1 Cinque...
1fl - 2ob – 2cl - 2fg // 2hn // cb
4 La Vandetta
2fl - 2ob - 2cl + b.cl- 2fg // 2hn – 2tpt // cb //pk
9 Non piu andrai
2fl - 2ob - 2cl + b.cl- 2fg // 2hn – 2tpt – 3tbn – 1tba (ad lib.) // cb //pk
10 Cavatina
2fl - 2ob - 2cl + b.cl- 2fg // 2hn // cb
16 Crudel
2fl - 2ob - 2cl + b.cl- 2fg // 2hn // cb
17 Hai gia
2fl - 2ob - 2cl + b.cl- 2fg // 2hn – 2tpt // cb //pk
Puccini
Gianni Schicci
Si corre dal notaio
2fl - 1ob – 3 (5) cl + b.cl – 2sx - 1fg // 3hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1euf - 1tba// perc - pk
La Boheme
Si, Mi chiamano Mimi
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2sx - 2bsn // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// db // perc -harp - timp
Rodrigo
Concierto di Aranjuez - Adagio
Gitar solo
2fl – 2ob (eng.hn) - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb
Saint-Saëns
Havanaise
fiolin solo
2fl – 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb// pk
Sarasate
Habanera op. 21.2
fiolin solo
2fl - 1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 1 sx - 1fg // 4hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1euf - 1tba// cb // perc - pk
Schumann
Romanze fra Concertstück op.86
4 solo horn
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl– 2sx- 2fg // 2hn (ad lib.) – 3tbn - 1tba // cb
Svendsen
Romanze op.26
fiolin solo
1fl -1ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 1fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 1euf - 1tba// cb // pk
Verdi
La Forza del Destino
Solenne in quest’ ora
ten - bar
2fl - 1ob - 2cl + b.cl – 2fg // 2hn // cb
Rataplan
sopran
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //Kor : STB// perc - pk
Maskeballet
Morro, ma prima ingrazia
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 2tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb // pk
Otello
Akt 1 - Una Vela!
2fl - 2ob - 3cl + b.cl – 2 sx - 2fg // 2hn - 3tpt - 3tbn- 1tba// cb //Kor: SATB // perc - pk
Reduction of wind parts for piano.
A help for pianists who do not have experience in score reading
Bartok
Romanian Folk Dances
Intermezzo interrotto (Concerto for orchestra)
Musik für Seiteninstrumente, Schlagzeug und Celesta – 1.sats
(pno: cb, celesta og perc)
Beethoven
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
3.1, 3.4
5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
Bizet
Les toréadors (Carmen)
Habanera (Carmen)
Pastorale - Andantino (L'Arlesienne suite 2)
Britten
Sea Interludes – Dawn
Bruckner
4.1
7.1
Bræin
Ut mot havet
Copland
Fanfare for the common man
Arrangement for strings and piano
Debussy
Prelude á l'apres midi d'un faune
Nuages
Dvorak
9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
de Falla
L'amour brujo
Danza ritual del fuego
Pantomime
Grieg
Morgenstemning
Norsk Dans nr.2
Solveigs sang
Lyrisk Suite - Notturno
Sigurd Jorsalfar - Preludium
Klavérkonsert a-moll 1.sats
Haydn
47
Mahler
1.1
Winds: 2-1-2-1/ 2 - (2) pno
4.1
Winds: 1-1-1-1/1 + pno
Mascagni
Intermezzo sinfonico (Cavalleria Rusticana)
Mendelssohn
Hebridene
Intermezzo ( A midsummer night's dream)
Mozart
35.1, 35.2, 35.3, 35.4
40.1, 40.2, 40.3, 40.4
41.1, 41.2
Ascanio in Alba overture
Bastien og Bastienne Intrada
Figaros bryllup – overture
Prokofiev
Romeo og Julie
Montagues and Capulets
The child Juliet
Dance
Romeo at the grave of Juliet
Marche (Love for the three oranges)
Ravel
Pavane
Ma Mére l'Oye 1
Ma Mére l'Oye 2
Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade 1
Scheherazade 3
Rossini
Wilhelm Tell-overture (finale)
Schubert
5.1
8.1, 8.2
Rosamunde – Entr'acte B-dur
Sibelius
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
5.1, 5.3
Valse Triste
Strauss jr.
Fledermaus overture
Stravinsky
Dumbarton Oaks - 1
Rite of Spring
piano and string quintet
piano in small orchestra: 2-1-2 -1 / 2 horn + str
Danses des adolescentes (13)
Jeu du rapt (37)
Glorification de l'élue (104) / Evocation des ancêtres (121)
Danse Sacrale (142)
Svendsen
2.1
Norsk Rapsodi nr.2
Romance for fiolin og orkester
Sæverud
Kjempeviseslåtten
Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake – Scene
Nutcracker - Marche
4.1
6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
Tveitt
Velkomne med æra
Stavkyrkjestev
Langeleiklåt
Storskrytarstev
Du...
Haring-øl
Verdi
Aida prelude
La Traviata – prelude
Wagner
Tristan – prelude
Weber
Oberon overture
Alf Årdal studied violin under Arve Tellefsen and Camilla Wicks and conducting under Arvid Fladmoe at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges Musikkhøgskole). He furthered his conducting studies with Otmar Suitner (Salzburg) and Herbert Blomstedt (Loma Linda University, California).
At the Norwegian Opera, Årdal has conducted opera and ballet performances including Boris Godunov, Swan Lake, and Egil Hovland’s church opera Fange og fri (Captive and Free).
Årdal has written arrangements for chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras and wind ensembles. Ensembles and soloists who have performed works in Årdal's transcriptions/ arrangements include The English Chamber Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra (Münchener Kammerorchester), the Finnish National Opera, Ensemble Allegria, TrondheimSolistene, Oslo Camerata, The Norwegian Wind Ensemble (Det Norske Blåseensemble), Vilde Frang, Truls Mørk, and Solveig Kringlebotn.
Årdal’s arrangements of Grieg’s two string quartets have been recorded by Oslo Camerata (Naxos), Lyric Pieces by Grieg with Barratt Due’s Junior Orchestra (Hemera), and Urlicht from Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, transcribed for solo cello, 12 cellists, and double bass, performed by the Oslo Philharmonic’s cellists on the CD "Erlik Cello", featuring Truls Mørk as the soloist.
At the Barrat Due Institute Årdal leads the «Dirigentforum junior», a division for young conductors under the national programme “Dirigentløftet”.
