Every summer, my family used to visit the fiddler Salve Austenå and his wife Margit in Åmli while we were at our summer cabin in Vegårshei. It isn’t always much fun to visit people when you’re little, but time spent at Salve’s was always treasured. He and Dad used to play while my brothers and I drank fizzy drinks, ate cakes and played games with Margit in the little kitchen.
After those visits to Salve, we kids would always fall asleep to the sound of Dad sitting in the living room playing the tunes Salve had taught him. They lived on in my head when I woke up in the morning to the smell of boiled coffee and propane. It wasn’t long before I wanted to play the Hardanger fiddle myself – I don’t quite know why, but it was something to do with the combination of the wonderful music and the happy hours spent both at our holiday place and at Salve and Margit’s home.
After a few years looking out for a small Hardanger fiddle, Salve found an instrument for me. I remember the day we went to pick it up – in July 2001, at a little bus station in Ubergsmoen. The fiddle was just the right size for me! Soon I was the one sitting in the living room at Salve’s learning tunes, while Dad sat in the kitchen eating cake and chatting with Margit.
Salve taught me countless tunes. And a lot of other things that have been very important to me as a musician and a person. This was one of the most important things he told me: “Once you’ve learnt a tune, it’s yours. You must do it your way.”
This album largely consists of tunes I learnt from Salve. I play them in my way and the arrangements reflect the way I hear them. The day before we went into the studio, we live-streamed a concert of the tunes as a general test run. Salve, who had got himself a Facebook account, rang the morning after. He had already seen our concert twice and was really happy. All the tunes met with his approval!
Just over a week later, he passed away at the age of 92. I am happy he got to hear the album. This album is my homage to Salve, and my way of thanking him for teaching me such a lot about music and about being a fellow human. Thank you, Salve!
The tune “Tri hjarter på ei snor” (Three hearts on a string) is actually about three suitors. Here, I am linking the title to all the tunes I learnt from Salve, which I will take with me through the rest of my life – and which I hope you, the listener, will also enjoy.
credits
released September 20, 2020
GKN5:
Guro Kvifte Nesheim – Hardanger fiddle
Jens Linell - Tambourine
Anna Malmström - Clarinet & bass clarinet
Thomas Eriksson – 12-string guitar
Anna Gustavsson – Nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle)
All tunes arranged by Guro Kvifte Nesheim and GKN5
The album was recorded at Tor Magne Hallibakken’s studio 7th-10th November 2019.
Mix: Tor Magne Hallibakken
Master: Fridtjof Lindeman
Record Company: Taragot Sounds
Photos: Emma Engström and Tellef Kvifte
Distribution: Musikkoperatørene
Translation: Lucy Moffatt
Thanks to:
Salve Austenå for all the tunes and encouragement and everything else you taught me; to Margit for all the fruit cordials, coffee and cakes; Fond for lyd og bilde for their support; Tellef Kvifte & Knut Kvifte Nesheim of Taragot for all their help with the launch and production; Ale Møller for feedback and musical input; the Hagberg/Brehmer family & the Nesheim family for the loan of fantastic rehearsal spaces; Tor Magne Hallibakken for the excellent sound and great company, as always; Lucy Moffatt for the translation; Fridtjof Lindeman for the master; and Emma Engström for artwork and images.
Deeply rooted in the norwegian hardangerfiddle music, Guro and her quintet puts traditional music in a new context and shows
that it has a natural place in our modern time. With a tight interaction, the musicians highlights the rhythm and sound of the hardangerfiddle....more
One of my favourite albums on travels - to see landscapes with this epic, well produced album is absolutely fabulous. The tunes are great and played by some fantastic instrumentalists! GKN5
The combination of the pipes and the fiddles are absolutely class. This is one of my favourite albums that I come back to and listen to to get inspired! GKN5
supported by 9 fans who also own “Tri hjarter på ei snor”
I recognize some tracks from the GKN5 recordings, other from Mats Edén’s earlier work. It is, nevertheless, truly wonderful to hear this dialogue on what is usually a solo music form, full with an almost embracing resonance. nahadoth
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020