Original score from the 2025 drama television series film directed by Vibeke Idsøe, starring Sindre Strand Offerdal, Gina Bernhoft Gørvell and Anders Baasmo, produced by Paradox and released by Amazon Prime Video.

THE STORY: For nine years, Crown Prince Harald and commoner Sonja Haraldsen fight for their right to marry, but the decision lies with King Olav. The Norwegian constitution bars Harald from marrying without royal consent.

THE SCORE: “The Commoner is the story of two young people, very much in love, who had to wait for nine years to know if they would be able to share their life together. The main obstacle was the Norwegian constitution, which states that the King has the final say in who the Crown Prince is allowed to marry. The music had to reflect the the love, the burden of royal duty, the frustrations, the public fear and anger that this affair could jeopardise the monarchy, and then, the final victory. As we are in a royal environment, It felt natural to use horns and strings as the main elements of the score. But both I, and the director, Vibeke Idsøe, wanted the story to be told in a contemporary way, so I also used synths and electronics, more than I usually do. And, as always, I am very happy about the life Bratislava Bratislava Symphony Orchestra and conductor David Hernando Rico gave the music. I also wrote some jazz cues, intended to sound like they could have been recorded in the late fifties, performed by a quintet of good friends.” – Gaute Storaas

THE COMPOSER: For more than 30 years, Gaute Storaas has been writing music for film and TV. Despite his background in jazz and pop music, his love for the orchestra and what musicians can bring of life and emotions to a project, shines through his film scores. Credits include the Oscar-nominated A Man Called Ove, medieval drama The Last King and lately, the remake of Three Wishes for Cinderella, A Christmas Tale (both 2021), Three Robbers and a Lion (2022) and now, Christmas on Cobbler Street. Gaute learned his craft at Berklee college of music in the eighties, and gained a lot of experience writing string and orchestral arrangements for recording sessions the following decade. Three albums of orchestral blast for black metal band Dimmu Borgir, and a Christmas album (“Mitt hjerte alltid vanker”), for the acclaimed trumpet virtuoso Tine Thing Helseth and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, are worth mentioning. Aside from composing, Gaute maintains his bass playing skills, and can be spotted on stage with Det norske poesi og satireokester, a spoken word/ jazz trio, with celebrated jazz pianist Vigleik Storaas (brother), and poet Dagfinn Nordbø. Over the years, Gaute has received several awards and nominations, and is the only Nordic composer holding two Harpa Awards.

MMS25002 THE COMMONER (Harald & Sonja) (Original Television Soundtrack)
Music Composed by GAUTE STORAAS
Release date: February 25, 2025