Benedicte Maurseth releases the single “Simleflokk under månen” – a moonlit portrait of wild reindeer life on the Hardangervidda plateau

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With Mirra, Maurseth continues her artistic project of creating conceptual soundscapes inspired by the natural world and local culture of Hardanger. While Hárr drew from the silence and drama of the mountains, Mirra explores the life cycle and extraordinary adaptability of wild reindeer in the harsh, expansive landscape of the Hardangervidda plateau.

The single Simleflokk under månen captures a striking moment in the reindeer’s annual rhythm: in late autumn, after the rutting season ends, the herd splits once again – the bulls go off alone and shed their majestic antlers, while the females (simler) and the previous year’s calves form their own groups. At this time, the females begin growing their antlers to secure the best grazing for the calves they carry through the winter. In Simleflokk under månen, composer and musician Benedicte Maurseth imagines this scene – the female reindeer gathered, older calves nearby, journeying together beneath the moonlight across the vast, white Hardangervidda.

With her distinctive Hardanger fiddle sound and subtle use of field recordings, Maurseth creates a meditative and hypnotic atmosphere. The music draws inspiration from Norwegian folk traditions as well as American minimalism, krautrock, and free improvisation – balancing the traditional with the experimental.

Simleflokk under månen is composed and performed by Benedicte Maurseth, in collaboration with Håkon Stene (percussion and melodic percussion), Mats Eilertsen (bass and electronics), and Morten Qvenild (keyboards). The single is produced by Benedicte Maurseth and Jørgen Træen, and was recorded at Ugla Lyd Studio in Nesodden.

With Simleflokk under månen, the listener is invited into a timeless, moonlit landscape – opening the door to a larger story about the rhythms of nature, community, and vulnerability.

The full album Mirra will be released on August 22 on CD, LP, and digital formats.

Biographies of the contributors 

Benedicte Maurseth is an acclaimed Hardanger fiddle player, composer, and author—an exceptional and award-winning performer. She studied for decades under master fiddler Knut Hamre, specializing in traditional folk music from Hardanger. Maurseth has toured extensively as a soloist in Norway and internationally and collaborated with a range of renowned artists across genres, including Jon Fosse, Kronos Quartet, and Marilyn Crispell. She has composed numerous commissioned works for prestigious ensembles and institutions, as well as for TV and film. Her albums have been released on Heilo, Hubro, and ECM. 

Håkon Mørch Stene is an award-winning percussionist who studied in Oslo, Freiburg, and San Diego. From 2005–2008, he was part of Rikskonsertene’s Classical INTRO launch program for young soloists. Håkon performs actively as a chamber musician and soloist around the world, including with ensembles such as asamisimasa, Pantha du Prince & the Bell Laboratory, Ensemble Modern, Oslo Sinfonietta, London Sinfonietta, 2e2m, Klangforum Wien, and the Nils Økland Ensemble. His latest solo album, Lush Laments for Lazy Mammal, won the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemann) in the contemporary category in 2014. 

Mats Eilertsen has been a prominent figure on the international jazz scene for the past 30 years. He has contributed to countless recordings and been central on major ECM releases alongside artists such as Tord Gustavsen, Trygve Seim, Mathias Eick, Nils Økland, Wolfert Brederode, and Jakob Young. He leads several of his own projects, including a trio with drummer Thomas Strønen and Dutch pianist Harmen Fraanje. Their latest release, And Then Comes The Night (2019, ECM Records), received a Spellemann Award and international acclaim. In 2022, Eilertsen received Norwegian jazz’s highest honor, the prestigious Buddy Prize. 

Morten Qvenild has been an active musician and composer in European jazz and related genres since 1998, touring internationally throughout that time. He has made artistic contributions as a solo artist and in numerous bands and collaborations, including In the Country, The National Bank, Solveig Slettahjell, A-ha, Marit Larsen, Susanne Sundfør, Arve Henriksen, Thomas Dybdahl, Martin Hagfors, Ingrid Olava, The Budding Rose, Nils Petter Molvær, Shining, Jaga Jazzist, Trinity, and Susanna and the Magical Orchestra.