ARVESØLVET will premiere at the festival
Photo: Andreas Eikeseth Nygjerd
Heritage Silver 2017 - the sound of the past as a source of creativity and innovation
Does Sogn og Fjordane have a unique sound? And what happens when four musicians get to explore and play with music from the county archives' collection of more than 16,000 historical audio recordings? You can hear the answer on Førdefestivalen 2017.
Musicians Erlend Apneseth, Øyvind Hegg-Lunde, Hilde Marie Holsen and Linda Gytri visited the county archives at the beginning of March to delve into the music collection. There are recordings of performers born nearly 150 years ago, and the range is wide: from funeral hymns and folk songs to cowbells, polkas and pig songs – performed on everything from saws to accordions.
- Getting to go on a treasure hunt among 16,000 audio recordings is magical in itself, so it's very exciting to see what we can create from this. We're simply brushing off the dust from the heritage while at the same time forging new music inspired by the old, says Linda Gytri.
Listening with different ears
Music archivist Synnøve S. Bjørset has been the musicians' guide in the source material, and says that our musical heritage has exciting qualities that can be grasped and communicated in many different ways.
- A jazz or classical performer would like to look for and hear different qualities in the material than a folk music performer, and this is precisely what makes it so interesting! In this project we are looking for these different perspectives, and hope that the sound of the past can also inspire us to create something completely new, says Bjørset.
Open an unknown door
The four musicians in the project usually work within different musical landscapes, and for some this project has been a first encounter with the county's own musical traditions. Lærdølen Øyvind Hegg-Lunde says that diving into the archive was like opening a door he didn't realize existed.
- Here I found music we rarely hear around us anymore. Yet all recordings provide an experience on one level or another. It can be a fantastic aesthetic experience, or it can be a strong story that makes an impression. As a musician, you always want to tell something with what you make, so much of the story is already here.
Hardanger fiddle player Erlend Apneseth opened the door to traditional music a long time ago. But this time he has been looking for something a little different than he usually does.
- I am both surprised and pleasantly surprised by what I have found. There is so much to learn! Especially in vocal music, I have heard a lot that could be interesting to transfer to my instrument. It is always exciting to learn a new pitch, or a different way of shaping the tone, says Apneseth enthusiastically.
Like drinking coffee with a peripheral neighbor
- Folk music has always been accessible to me, but more like a peripheral neighbor with whom I have occasionally had a cup of coffee. I therefore find it very enjoyable to get to know it better, while at the same time exploring it through my own musical expression, says Hilde Holsen.
Holsen plays the trumpet and works with sampling, and has also developed an interest in the extra-musical aspects of the material.
- I have listened to both charming amateurs and very skilled musicians, and have been fascinated by recording techniques and unintentional background sounds, as well as musical elements. There is a lot to be inspired by here!
World premiere on Førdefestivalen
You can hear the musicians' interpretation of our musical heritage at Førdefestivalen Friday, July 7. At the concert Arvesølvet 2017, the audience will enjoy both the sounds of the past and completely new music!
- This is a very exciting project that we immediately got interested in, says festival director Hilde Bjørkum. - Førdefestivalen is both global and local, and this is a great example of how we can take our own musical heritage into the future!
The project is a collaboration between the County Archives of Sogn og Fjordane and Førdefestivalen , and is supported by the Arts Council of Norway and the Fund for Performing Artists.
The musicians in the project:
Erlend Apnseth , Hardanger fiddle player from Jølster - homepage
Linda Gytri , accordion player from Olden Stryn - homepage
Hilde Marie Holsen , trumpeter from Jølster - homepage
Øyvind Hegg-Lunde , drummer and percussionist from Borgund in Lærdal - homepage