Monday, November 26, 2012

Benedicte Maurseth / Knut Hamre: Anima


How about some folk music again? I suggest you check out Benedicte Maurseth / Knut Hamre: "Anima" (Heilo 2012). What you get is a beautiful mix of traditional Norwegian folk, music by Tobias Hume and Henry Purcell (and others), and commissioned works by Nils Økland.

They play on Hardanger fiddles and violins from the 16th century, borrowed from museums and private collections.

The musicians are: Knut Hamre, Benedicte Maurseth, Nils Økland, Philippe Pierlot (viola da gamba) and Elisabeth Seitz (tympanon).

"Anima" is a further development of the album "Rosa i Botnen" (Heilo 2006), with Knut Hamre, Benedicte Maurseth, Sigbjørn Apeland and Nils Økland.
If you buy this one you will also get a quite charming (we are talking microphones dipping into the picture) DVD about the old fiddles and fiddle makers (subtitled I hope).

There are probably people who believe these old instruments belong in museums, but in my ears these albums sound just great!

The video with Benedicte Maurseth was recorded in 2009, and don´t worry, she speaks English.

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