Although perhaps best known as an artist on the ECM record label, Bjørnstad is also an accomplished writer, having published some 20 books (predominantly novels) and a number of poetry and essay collections.
Ketil Bjørnstad made his debut with the Oslo Philharmonic in 1969, 16 years old, playing Bartok nr. 3. Listening to Miles Davis' "In a silent way" made him want to create his own music. Thanks to the very lively milieu around the Oslo music spot "Club 7" in the seventies, he met with poets, painters, jazz-musicians, and was encouraged to find his own style. Onthe first recording in 1973, called Åpning, he played with the drummer Jon Christensen for the first time. Jon was extremely important for Ketil, playing on three more albums, including the two The Sea albums for ECM.
Among Ketil Bjørnstad’s most important musical influences are Bach, Ravel, Prokofiev, Stravinskij, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk and folk music. In his time he has collaborated with some of Scandinavia’s most distinguished folk- and rock-singers, like Ole Paus and Cornelis Vreeswijk. In the classical milieu he has collaborated much with the mezzo-soprano Randi Stene and the viola player Lars Anders Tomter. For his efforts he has had the honour of receiving a Norwegian Grammy award.
He has frequently collaborated with other ECM artists, including American cellist David Darling, drummer Jon Christensen, and guitarist Terje Rypdal.
No Man Is An Iland...
Ketil Bjørnstad Lyrics
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is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
Ketil Bjørnstad's song No Man Is An Island is a powerful commentary on the interconnectedness of humanity. The lyrics, which are a quote from the English poet John Donne's famous meditation, explore the notion that no one can exist independently of others. Rather, every individual is part of a larger whole, a piece of the continent or part of the main. The song emphasizes the idea that when one person is lost, whether through death, isolation or some other form of separation, the entire community suffers.
Bjørnstad's song urges the listener to be mindful of the ways in which they are connected to others. The line "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind" is particularly poignant, highlighting the idea that all of humanity is inextricably tied together. The final lines of the song, "And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee," remind us that we should never feel immune to the tragedies of others, as we are all part of the same community.
Line by Line Meaning
No man is an island entire of itself;
No individual can survive by oneself and disconnected from others.
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
Each person is a part of a bigger picture and cannot exist without the support and influence of others.
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were;
The loss of even the smallest thing or person can have a significant impact on the whole, including one's own self.
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.
The death of any person brings a sense of loss and reduction to the collective whole because we are all interconnected.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
The sound of the funeral bell is a reminder of our own mortality and that the loss of one person is a loss for all of us.
Contributed by Violet J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.