Closing out Norway Chess with music

Jason Kouchak and Juga in Stavanger

Jason Kouchak is a pianist, singer and composer from Lyon. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and at the University of Edinburgh. As a composer and pianist, he has been invited to numerous events, and performed in all major halls around the world as well as releasing five albums.

Kouchak is also a fan of chess. He helped launch large outdoor chess sets in London's Holland Park and Meadows park in Edinburgh, he was a guest at the public showing of a GBP £350,000 set made by Sir John Tenniel and inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and a chess-themed ballet project.

Jason Kouchak greets Magnus Carlsen

Jason Kouchak at the Piano

Kouchak was one of the guests who musically refined the closing ceremony of the Norway Chess Tournament.

We’re happy to have a world-renowned pianist @JasonKouchak again this year! 🎶 At the #Altibox #NorwayChess closing ceremony Jason will play
excerpts from Grieg Piano Concerto and Peer Gynt Suite,
and will perform a world premiere of his own composition “Queen of the Knight” 🎼 pic.twitter.com/FncHxsDiCC

— Altibox Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 15, 2019

At the closing ceremony, Kouchak played Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor as well as unveiling the world premier of 'Queen of the Knight' based on Philidor's 'Princess of Norway' and Mozart's 'Queen of the Night' coupled with a James Bond theme (the latest Bond movie was filmed in part in the Norwegian town of Nittedal a few months ago).

The overall concept was to reflect the fusion of classical chess with blitz Armageddon that characterized this year's Norway Chess tournament.

Here is the video: 

Ludwig 3 - the PC music program

Ludwig makes music. Ludwig helps you compose. Ludwig arranges music for bands. Everything is simple with Ludwig: enter the melody, choose the form, the emotion and the style of music. Ludwig does all the rest: the chords, the accompaniment, the choice of instruments, the arrangement, the groove. You are the creative one, the software does the donkey work. Whether a beginner or a pro, anyone can compose complete songs with Ludwig.

Juga di Primo

Another musical guest was Juga di Prima (just 'Juga' for short), who also performed. The simultaneously humorous and sensual Chilean singer and composer gained prominence with her song "Oh Capablanca" in September 2018 and her second song, "Isolated Pawn" was released during last November's World Championship match in London.

Know the Terrain Vol.6: Isolated Queen's Pawn

In this DVD, Sam Collins examines the Isolated Queen's Pawn (IQP) and associated structures. Using games almost exclusively from grandmaster praxis in the last two years, Collins explains all of the major ideas for playing with and against the IQP.

Master Class Vol.2: Mihail Tal

On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.

In Stavanger, she introduced her new song "Tactical", inspired by Mikhail Tal. On her website you can find many videos, including a new video of the song "Henua", which also contains allusions to the game of chess. The video is subject to an age restriction, which is why we do not embed it here. But curious chess friends can find many more examples and videos with (partly hidden) chess motifs.

Juga recommends Rudolf Spielmann | Videoframe

Studying chess on the beach in the song HENÛA | Videoframe

If you want to see Juga di Primo live, you will find it at the music festival in Szeged and in November at Judit Polgar's Global Chess Festival.

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

Links

• Jason Kouchak homepage
• Juga: Homepage
• Juga di Prima on Twitter