Elisabeth Holmertz, Anders Roine, Harald Skullerud & Elisabeth Vatn
Description
This CD from an ensemble of top Norwegian musicians, combines elements of early music, folk, jazz, contemporary music and improvisation, is based on a notation for medieval sequence dating from 1173. Titled St Thomas Hymn - Aquas Plenas Amaritudine, the sequence is dedicated to the murder and later martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.
This historical event was the point of inspiration for a work commissioned by Concerts Norway for the Norwegian Year of Cultural Heritage 2009. The work has since been toured extensively throughout Norway with concert performances taking place in the country's ancient stave churches. Now, in 2011, the recorded version is released on CD under the title, 'Stave Church Songs: Martyred Saints & Sister Bells', all the compositions and arrangements are by the ensemble.
The ensemble consists of four high-profile performers who combine their individual specialities of early music, folk music, jazz, contemporary music and improvisation: Elisabeth Holmertz: vocals; Anders Røine: langeleik (Norwegian zither), Jew's harp, Hardanger fiddle; Harald Skullerud: percussion, ceramic bells, music box; Elisabeth Vatn: harmonium, folding organ, Swedish bagpipes, medieval pipes, Meråker clarinet, Srutibox for iPhone.
In addition, distinguished poet Steinar Opstad appears as a guest artist on one of the tracks with his poem The Bells of St Thomas Air, which was written especially for the 2009 tour.
Tracklisting
Hoven Droven
Ferd
Lillebjorn Nilsen & Andy Irvine
MOJNA
Hekate
Gjermund Larsen Trio
Berit Opheim
Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola
Tine Thing Helseth; Bergen Philharmonic; Petr Popelka
Engegard Quartet
Oslo Kammerakademi; David Friedemann Strunck
Berit Norbakken; Arctic Philharmonic; Hennig Kraggerud
Melanie Marshall; Roderick Williams; The Cambridge Singers; Taplow Young Voices; Royal Philharmonic
Bellot Ensemble; Lucine Musaelian; Kieran White
Julia Kogan; Britten Sinfonia; Steven Lloyd-Gonzalez
Sebastian Comberti; London Mozart Players; Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra; Jurgen Bruns
