Nordisk Sang

Amazon.com
This diamond of a recording gives the listener a rare and intimate look at the genuine folk music of Scandinavia, away from the festivals, the hype, and the fusions. Here are the willow bark flutes, the pristine voices, and the fiddles (both hardingfele and standard) of Norway, usually in solo settings, or simple call and responses between an instrument and a voice. Central to the proceedings is singer Kirsten Bråten Berg, a singer of such pure tone and ethereal spaces that the ear swoons upon hearing it. Lesser-known but no less impressive is the voice of Pernille Anker. Hardingfele players Hallvard T. Bjørgum, Torliev Bolstad, and Gunnar Stubseid show the diverse capabilities of this drone fiddle. There are two pieces for transverse flute (one as a duo with a pipe organ that is quite unusual), one for solo dulcimer, and one for willow bark flute to round out the sounds of Norway. There are only two slightly larger ensemble pieces, one a trio for voice, saxophone, and hardingfele, another for voice, hardingfele, bouzouki (the illustrious Ale Möller), and recorder. All the tunes are original save for a beautiful solo fiddle piece by Hans Brimi. This is a worthy collection selected by the Norwegian Heilo label, and it offers a rare look inside the folk tradition. --Louis Gibson

Tracks:

Tveitanvise - Eivind Groven
Bla Tonar Fra Lom - Pernile Anker
Svein I Sy' Garde - Torleiv Bolstad
Jenta I Saueflokken - Kirsten Braten Berg
Heiemo Og Nykkjen - Kirsten Braten Berg
Smorligraen - Hans Brimi
Sylfest Mork - Hans Brimi
To Bansullar Etter - Rinnaug Biloygard
Thomasklukkud'n Pa - Filefjell
Trumpen Hass Trond - Torleiv Bolstad
Kjoeringkjegla - Elisabeth Kuarne
Bansull - Kirsten Braten Berg
Tirili Tovann - Kirsten Braten Berg/Tellef Kvifte/Hallvard T. Bjorgum
Min Kvedarlund - Kirsten Braten Berg/Hallvard T. Bjorgum/Ale Moller/Tellef Kvifte
Kivlemoyane - Kare Nordstoga/Steinar Ofsdal
Vajevise - Kirsten Braten Berg/Tellef Kvifte
Nils Og Jens Og Gjeidaug - Kirsten Braten Berg/Hallvard T. Bjorgum
Budeiesull Fra Brimisaetra - Pernille Anker
Seljefloytetone - Erwind Groven

Amazon.com

This diamond of a recording gives the listener a rare and intimate look at the genuine folk music of Scandinavia, away from the festivals, the hype, and the fusions. Here are the willow bark flutes, the pristine voices, and the fiddles (both hardingfele and standard) of Norway, usually in solo settings, or simple call and responses between an instrument and a voice. Central to the proceedings is singer Kirsten Bråten Berg, a singer of such pure tone and ethereal spaces that the ear swoons upon hearing it. Lesser-known but no less impressive is the voice of Pernille Anker. Hardingfele players Hallvard T. Bjørgum, Torliev Bolstad, and Gunnar Stubseid show the diverse capabilities of this drone fiddle. There are two pieces for transverse flute (one as a duo with a pipe organ that is quite unusual), one for solo dulcimer, and one for willow bark flute to round out the sounds of Norway. There are only two slightly larger ensemble pieces, one a trio for voice, saxophone, and hardingfele, another for voice, hardingfele, bouzouki (the illustrious Ale Möller), and recorder. All the tunes are original save for a beautiful solo fiddle piece by Hans Brimi. This is a worthy collection selected by the Norwegian Heilo label, and it offers a rare look inside the folk tradition. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

beautiful!.......2007-06-11

Very nice, high quality music. We enjoy collecting music from around the world to both listen to at home and in the classroom. This is one of my favorites so far.

This cd stands apart.......2006-04-10

I wouldn't describe myself as a music critic, but I do get restless and like novelty, and world music gives me range to do that. That said, a friend gave me Nordisk Sang more than 10 years ago, and it grew on me over time and is probably my most played cd. The vocals are hauntingly beautiful in a way unpolluted by self-consciousness, and the harmonies are complex and unfamiliar enough even after scores of listenings that I can't shake the feeling of "otherliness" I get listening to it.

In the last couple of years I've explored more Nordic roots music and although I've found some good albums like Garbarek and Bukkene Bruse, nothing's quite equalled Nordisk Sang. Something magic there.

paddywhack.......2006-03-22

An excellent albumt hat captures the best of Nordic folk. Roots music often reveals the places it has come from and this collection does exactly that. All the songs have the feeling of bleak snowscapes, cold winters, and long dark nights with the singers circled around a fire, protected from the elements outside. There is a definite flavour of the viking here with haunting vocals on many of the tracks. It is hard to pick out a single outstanding track as unusually for compilations like this, the whole package runs seamlessly together. Having visited Norway on several occasions and seen the bleak landscapes, this album brings those memories back to vivid life. Definitely one for the winter witha hot rumor whatever toaccompany it! Buy this, you wont go wrong if you have eclectic tastes.

Haunting rainy day music.......2004-12-11

I received this CD as a present from a friend who evidently knows me quite well. I love every track, and though it has beeen over two years since I received it, I still play it quite regularly. It is the kind of music you need to read Beowulf to, next to a fire, on a rainy day.

The only disc that features the incomparable Pernille Anker.......2004-01-03

The prior reviews more than adequately describe the mystery and haunting beauty of this disc. I have a lot of nordic discs and this one can't be beat. What makes it special is the variety of presentations (vocal and various instruments), the consistent quality of the song selection, the loving and deeply evocative arrangements that showcase the sheer beauty of the music. And then there are those voices! What incredible ones! Braten-Berg is well entitled to her due. But Pernille Anker is equally a treasure, and we lost her way too early. As far as I can determine, this is the ONLY disc readily available in the U.S. that showcases her amazing talent. She does have one incredible cut on Wizard Women of the North.