The title of the CD had to be “Soccorsi” – this mellifluous Italian word, also the title of one of Morten Eide Pedersen’s piano works. “Soccorsi” means supportive, helpful, and so was Morten: he who supported, created, and helped when called upon.

With his deep and extensive knowledge, he became a mentor to many and an artistic force within society. He filled many roles: educator, writer, lecturer, and cultural entrepreneur. In 1996, when the chance arose, he seized the opportunity to create a new composition program, a program where there should be space for the entire spectrum of budding composers, and also for those voices that just quite didn’t fit in. He entered into dialogue-based guidance with a burning passion to help students find and develop their own artistic voices.

And new ideas emerged: international composers’ meetings in Bergen, a concert series for the city’s composers and composition students, a contemporary music festival. “Everything is connected,” he said, and in his own unpretentious way, he constantly erected new arenas and forged new connections.

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Recorded in The University Aula in Bergen, 13 16 August 2019.