HELGA MYHR

SOLO

New solo album is released on Motvind Records. The album contains traditional Hardanger fiddle tunes from Hallingdal.

Det har opp gjennom tida vorte dokumentert svært mykje av slåttematerialet i Hallingdal. Både notenedskriftene og opptaka syner ein mangfaldig og rik tradisjon som gir utøvarar i dag moglegheit til å tolke musikken i ulike retningar. Eg har i oppveksten og i vaksen alder òg fått lære av og spele med inspirerande utøvarar frå dalen. Eg ynskjer spesielt å trekkje fram Egil Syversbråten som ein viktig lærar og inspirator for meg. På denne plata syner eg noko av materialet eg har arbeidd med både frå barndommen av og dei seinare åra.

Artwork and coverdesign by Solveig Lønseth (photos: Solveig Lønseth)
Buy LP and CD here

Helga Myhr’s debut album as a soloist, Natten veller seg ut, was released on Motvind records in October 2019. On the album we can listen to Myhr’s experimental interpretations of folk music from her home region, Hallingdal. Myhr focuses on different creative modes of expression that arise when you enter the musical material of a tradition and open your ears to improvisation and experimental music. Myhr often uses both the fiddle and song at the same time, and in this way brings forth the special and challenging interplay emerging when one person plays and sings at the same time.

Natten veller seg ut was nominated for Norwegian Grammy Awards (Spellemannsprisen 2019) for Folk Music/ Traditional Music.

«Helga Myhr’s crystal clear traditional song alternates between being supported by minimalistic meditations and improvisation over rhythms with a distinct footprint in the heritage from traditional folk dance. (...) The interaction between the fiddle and the hymns has a stroke of respect in the overtone singing. Still it is not the popular religiousness that strikes you the most. It is the well-formed spiritual power of the (art) music.”
- Aslaug Olette Klausen, 14 October 2019, Klassekampen

«Helga Myhr seeks out the more contemplative expressions within folk music. (…) The contrast between light and dark are also expressed in music through the interplay and contrasts between the clear and relaxed singing voice and the more complex and occasionally intense fiddle play.”
- Sigbjørn Apeland, 18 October 2019, Dag og Tid