Glød - Mari Eggen, Helene Høye

GLOW - For centuries, Norway’s dark winter days and luminous summer nights have inspired the diverse forms of creativity of its folk artists. Troll lore and nature mysticism spring from the interplay of light and darkness on the fertile imagination, and light in its many manifestations has always been a central element of Norwegian painting and music. It is this recurring play of light that has ensured Norwegian folk art its unique position in a larger European context. An intense dark glow permeates the music presented on this CD by two distinguished artists. In their tightly arranged renderings the vigor and poetic feeling of the folk music tradition is fused with a bold and skillful use of polyphonic texture, bearing witness to the power inherent in a living tradition. 

To feel a glow - that special warmth and ardor - is something we hope to find whenever we come together to play traditional dance music. Many a traditional musician will tell you that playing a dance tune or hearing others play can be a source of renewed strength and energy. We have savored such moments together, and we wish to share this experience. The old dance tunes possess a special vitality that has inspired us to compose new melodies in the traditional style. We have made an effort to create suitable arrangements that elicit the richly nuanced tones of the music. Special tunings on the fiddle are commonly used in traditional dance music to vary the sound of individual pieces, and we have availed ourselves of this practice in both the arrangements and selection of tunes, using nine different tunings in all.

Click here for booklet

Listen in streaming services