The first work, “String Quartet No. 1 Quattro stazioni”, takes its starting point in some specific geographical locations: Holon, Israel; Rome, Italy; Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands; and Vassenden in the Hardanger region of Norway in the form of traditional melodic material that arose in these places.

The second work, “String Quartet No. 2”, takes its starting point in textual rather than musical material. The poetry of several authors and with contrasting emotional content from movement to movement. Most vocal music begins with a text. Here the same principle is applied to instrumental music in that I have written a ‘song’.

In the third work, “Air d’ete suedois”, I take a further step in that I try to communicate a textual message through music. This is a musical narration that attempts to depict the soul’s condition and activity.

The last work on the album, “Divertimento”, is not built on either musical or textual materials drawn from other sources but is a work developed to some extent in accordance with specific classical formal principles, in this case, sonata form. These four stations have played major roles in my work as a composer; indeed, all four are important elements of the music I write today. – Kjell Habbestad