COMPOSERS: Benedicte Maurseth
LABELS: Heilo
ALBUM TITLE: Alde
WORKS: Alde
PERFORMER: Benedicte Maurseth
CATALOGUE NO: HCD7259
Norway has a rich folk music culture, which has given the world the hardingfele or Hardanger fiddle. This beautiful instrument has a unique and distinctive sound due to its resonating or sympathetic strings, which generate a ringing overtone drone. With a style rich in delicate harmonics, BENEDICTE MAURSETH is one of the country’s most respected Hardanger players. Her interest in the sounds of these vintage fiddles, and the instruments of the Baroque era, as well as early music, mean this wonderfully austere collection of ‘new folk’ compositions may appeal to lovers of both. Maurseth’s Alde includes material written for the Norwegian Theatre production of Jon Fosse’s play Andvake (Wakefulness). While some of the tunes suggest folk dances, most seem to evoke the patterns, tones and rhythms of the natural world.
Jon Lusk