Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg: Singing traditional Hardanger Fiddle tunes

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Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg bring forth traditional tunes and songs in two-part harmony. On Tostemt we are presented with thirteen vocal dance tunes and songs from Telemark and Valdres, further developed and arranged for two voices. Øyonn and Marit explain:

- We are both deeply fascinated by the two-part harmonies inherent in much of the fiddle playing, especially in the sound of the Hardanger fiddle. It often feels as if two independent melodic lines are playing together. When we arrange for two-part vocalizing, the Hardanger fiddle’s expression is an important source of inspiration.

The tunes on the album have been passed down both through instrumental performance and through vocalizing. To showcase the diversity of sung dance music, they include five songs in village dance and round dance rhythms. Some of these are originally instrumental melodies to which lyrics have later been added, and here, the langeleik (Norwegian zither) and lyre accompany the singing. They conclude:

- In the work of fitting vocalized words to the tunes, we are constantly drawn back to the rich forest of vocal dance musicians. The tradition of vocal dance tunes holds great intrinsic value, and there are many terms for it. In Telemark they ‘tullar slåttane’ (hum the tunes), in Valdres they ‘hullar låttane’ (chant the tunes), and in Hallingdal they ‘lèt på kjafte’ (let the mouth play). Many of the old vocalizers preserve an ancient layer of the dance music. Here lies a vast sea of melodic turns, forms, rhythms, vocal techniques, and tonal expressions.

The album was recorded at Høvik Church by engineer Tor-Magne Hallibakken and produced by Leiv Solberg.

About Øyonn and Marit

Øyonn Groven Myhren (1969) – vocals and lyre
Marit Karlberg (1967) – vocals and langeleik

Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg were key members of the vocal group Dvergmål, which released the albums "Visor og kvæde frå Blåberglandet" (Grappa, 1996) and "Song i himmelsalar" (Heilo/Grappa, 2004), the first of which was nominated for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian Grammy).

Now, over 25 years later, they have picked up the thread again, further developing fiddle music from Telemark and Valdres in a vocal duo format. They have also unearthed a selection of dance songs, which they perform accompanied by lyre and langeleik.

Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg are among Norway’s foremost traditional singers (kvedarar), with an impressive collection of solo albums, collaborative projects, awards, and folk music competition victories behind them. Both are highly accomplished vocalizers of fiddle tunes. Øyonn is perhaps best known for her collaboration with Odd Nordstoga on the commissioned work "Nivelkinn", while Marit is familiar to many as one half of the duo Sudan Dudan.

Concerts:

• May 2 – Juret Bar, Oslo

• May 3 – Tou Loftet, Stavanger

• May 31 – Sundrehall, Folk Music Week at Ål, Hallingdal

• July 6 – Bygdin Høifjeldshotel, Jørn Hilme Festival, Valdres

• July 6 – Olestølen, Øystre Slidre

• November 8 – Rollag Folk & Jazz Club, Numedal

• November 22 – Riksscenen, Oslo