Atem (German = breath) consists of four parts (played without pause) which all relate to breathing and toneless sounds. The first and third section have a scherzo-like character and consist mostly of this vague, toneless material. In my early sketches I called this a "ghost-ensemble". In the second and fourth part, the piece gradually finds a slower pulse, where the instruments meet in slow chord progressions. «Atem» was commisioned by Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra with support from the Norwegian Art Council.