Majorstuen Breakneck polkas with daring runs, easygoing lullabies with blue notes, groovy reinlenders and wickedly wonderful waltzes, this is what you may expect from a musical experience with the fiddle and cello collective Majorstuen. Majorstuen has somehow come to signify the revival of Norwegian traditional music with a hugely dynamic and forward-looking musical expression. Already with its 2003 debut album this five-strong fiddle ensemble made it clear that things were changing in the sphere of Norwegian folk. Words like “explosive” and “groundbreaking” had not previously been associated with pure fiddle music, but that was before Majorstuen came along.
The group met as young students at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Everyone was in possession of a unique musical heritage from their different home regions principally grounded in the genre of folk music. Five distinct dialects found a common path and gradually the fiddlers developed a distinctive sound that is in turns energetic, flowing, pensive and humorous. Today, 10 years after their step forward, the fiddlers go on with untiring ability to inspire and surprise their audience and followers. Now, as well as at the outset, the constraints are clearly stated and absolute: only stringed instruments, and no electronic gadgetry. The 10th anniversary was celebrated with the release of Skir*, their fourth album. Majorstuen’s effort has garnered them a string of awards, among them a Spellemann (the Norwegian Grammy) for their debut album. They have travelled far and wide for ten years to the delight of international audiences in France, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Mexico and Canada, in addition to countless appearances in Norway. Majorstuen line-up: Andreas Ljones | fiddle Gjermund Larsen | fiddle Jorun Marie Kvernberg | fiddle Synnøve S. Bjørset | fiddle Tove P. Dalbakk | fiddle and cello www.majorstuen.get-ctrl.com
