Photo: Signe Fuglesteg Luksengard
Composer, bandleader and master of the Hardanger fiddle Erlend Apneseth is one of Norways’s leading folk musicians. The recipient of numerous awards, Apneseth boasts an incredibly diverse CV that includes numerous collaborations and critically acclaimed albums with his trio and also his own solo projects. He has announced the release of his new album Song over Støv [Song over dust], whose “title reflects a dialogue between past and present, both personally and musically.” Initially conceived as part of a commission for Oslo World and Riksscenen in 2023, the project weaves together elements of folk music, jazz, and contemporary music, whilst also keeping its connection to the Hardanger fiddle tradition.
To bring Song over Støv to life, Apneseth enlisted a cast of outstanding Norwegian musicians, including Mats Eilertsen, Hans Hulbækmo, Veslemøy Narvesen, Selma French Bolstad, Helga Myhr, Rasmus Kjorstad, Henriette Eilertsen, Anja Lauvdal, Rolf-Erik Nystrøm, and Frode Haltli. Apneseth comments:
“What’s important to me is that the musicians feel a sense of ownership over the music, that they feel integrated into it and are able to express themselves in their own way. So, I tend to compose more for musical personalities than for instruments in a traditional sense—people who I believe will discover something in the music I bring to them.”
Speaking about his idea to write for a larger group of fiddles, he says:
“Fiddles tend to get a bit drowned out in larger ensembles, so it was really refreshing to have three more on “my” team. With a quartet of Hardanger fiddles in the band, I’ve also felt more comfortable including more specific elements from tradition than before —like ornamentation and various springar rhythms— because I know they’ll come through clearly. I really enjoy unison playing and allowing things to repeat over time, which might stem from my own background.”
Song over Støv will see the light of day on April 4th through Hubro but we can already hear the radiant and absolutely beautiful first single ‘Spring’. Of the track, Apneseth says:
“The track is based on a traditional ‘springar’ rhythm, which the title reflects. At the same time, the music has a youthful and fresh quality, much like the feeling of spring finally arriving after the long winter here where I live. In this band, there are three Hardanger fiddles in addition to my own, and this is one of the tracks where the instrument truly gets to shine.”
Listen to ‘Spring’ now.
