Akselsen/Carstensen/Kvernberg - Horta [CD]

Cat. no: HCD7400
Format: CD
Barcode: 7033662074006
Release Date: 25 Nov 2022
Genre: Folk

A slice of Norwegian cultural history in album form – a unique interpretation of traditional Norwegian Travellers' songs.Elias Akselsen, Ola Kvernberg and Stian Carstensen take us on a journey through Norwegian music history

The album's title, "Horta", means "authentic" in the language of the Travellers, Romani. Elias Akselsen (74) is a member of the oldest generation who knew and can remember the "authentic" life of the Travellers, and is today one of the foremost representatives of the musical heritage of the Norwegian Travellers/ Roma. He was born on the road and learned to play and sing the traditional songs while gathered around the bonfre with his relatives. He has a deep and inborn appreciation of these songs. Musician/producer Stian Carstensen and musician/ arranger Ola Kvernberg join him in raising these old songs to a new level. With the addition of guest artists Anita Kleppe and Sara Wilhelmsen, three voices from three generations of Travellers meet one another. Together they have recorded their unique interpretations of nine Travellers' songs, some known and some unfamiliar, with the aim of preserving and carrying on the rich, but partly hidden, cultural heritage of the Travellers, and of making it more widely accessible. 

The musical tradition of the Travellers is vivid and complex, featuring elements from a variety of countries and cultures – from broadside ballads and folk songs to Russian folk tunes and Balkan rhythms. In many ways this music bears witness to the way the Travellers drew musical inspiration from their travels. In addition to the treasure trove of songs the Travellers have kept alive, they have also had a strong infuence on Norwegian folk music. Many traditional fddle tunes that are well known today can be traced back to the Traveller fddler Fant-Karl, and one of Norway's most famous fddlers, Myllarguten, often learned tunes from Travellers passing by.

This is the Norwegian equivalent of blues and soul, and has at least as much authenticity as the American genres we know so well. But it belongs to us Norwegians, and to the Norwegian landscape, nature and people. Today Akselsen is the leading practitioner of the musical heritage of the Norwegian Travellers/ Roma. He was born on the road, with genuine Travellers on both sides of his family; he was the great-grandchild of the "Traveller king" Stor-Johan on one side, and of "sea vagabonds" in Bergen on the other. Today he is the last remaining representative of the original song tradition, and also practises traditional handicrafts, making knives and whisks.

The album was produced by Skøyerstaten Teater, a voluntary organisation that works to present the cultural treasure trove of the Travellers/Roma in an artistic form

CD Tracks: Vandringsstaven / Burobengen / Fant-Sonja / Store Johns visa / Det var I fjor jag tjena dreng / Se min ild / I mange ar / Tva ma man vara 

More From This Artist: Akselsen Carstensen Kvernberg