About the Piece

Jordan Jinosko – Freyja’s Chariot

Freyja’s Chariot is a musical accompaniment to various scenes involving the Norse Diety of War and Magic. Freyja inhabited the imaginations of Vikings as a powerful warrior woman, riding a chariot pulled by cats. She was also thought to usher half of the fallen soldiers into Fólkvangr, a resting place similar to Valhalla. Such ideas are depicted by the orchestra dramatically. Over the raucous noises of combat and beating battle drums, Freyja’s voice, embodied by the oboes, can be heard urging soldiers on. At the same time, she sees the fallen and compassionately places their bodies in her chariot. There is little time to mourn for those lost, however; for the battle rages on! [Program note by the composer]

Instrumentation:

Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
4 Horns
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
1 Tuba
Percussion (4)
Harp
Music Box (or toy piano)
Zither (or autoharp)
Kalimba (or xylophone)
Strings

View the score under “Recording” below.

About the Composer

Jordan Jinosko is a composer and songwriter. Her music generally draws inspiration from history, mythology, nature, and her experience as a transgender woman. 

Jordan has had her music performed in the US, Canada, and Europe. She has enjoyed premieres by the Ann Arbor Camerata, the Mercer String Orchestra, and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Her music has been interpreted by soloists David Halen, Vanessa Porter, as well as conductors Ward Stare, Victor Huls, and Niklas Tamm.

Jordan has exhibited music at the Midwest Composers Symposium and The Midwest Clinic. She is a prior recipient of the Molly Mulligan Award and the John A. Wolaver Award, and she has been honored in the Green Dot Composer Competition and The Howard Hanson Young Composers Competition.

She studied Music Composition and Music Theory at Eastman Community Music School with Margaret Henry. She also studied at the University of Michigan with Michael Daugherty, Bright Sheng, Evan Chambers, and Kristin Kuster. [from the composer’s website]

Performance Materials

Performance materials, including score and parts, are available through the composer’s website.

Recording

Recording with reference score: