Viggja Voices - Åtte årstider (2022) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

The composer has drawn inspiration from both joik, folk music, jazz and contemporary music. The work was premiered in February, in connection with the Winter Culture Week in Skaun. We also performed parts of the work in connection with the NM for choirs in autumn 2021, and the music was very well received.

Eight seasons is our first album and mainly consists of the commissioned work "De eight seasons" by Ragnar Rasmussen. The music is inspired by the Sami people's eight seasons linked to weather, nature, chores and spirituality. The composer wanted to depict these alternations in eight movements. The work follows the course of the year from spring-winter all the way through to winter.

The vocal group is in focus, but percussionist Martin Smidt also plays an important role in the work. The tonal language and singing style draw inspiration from, among other things, joik, kveding, folk tunes and jazz. The landscape of the North Calotte and the Sami culture are a great source of inspiration, but the composer wanted to integrate these elements into a larger Scandinavian whole.

In connection with the record project, the vocal group asked four visual artists from Skaun to create art inspired by the music and the seasons. The eight works of art were exhibited in Bautaen cultural center when we premiered the work. The images have also been used as scenographic elements at concerts.

In addition to "The Eight Seasons", we have recorded three other songs, one of which was newly written for us and two are new arrangements of old classics, including Bjørn Alterhaug's Søv. Recording took place in Øra studio in autumn 2021 and spring 2022 with producer Kjetil Bjerkestrand. Mixing by Jo Ranheim.

Tracklist:
01. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Vårvinter – Áillohaš
02. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Vår – Håpefull
03. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Vårsommer – Mylder
04. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Sommer – Saltvann i håret
05. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Høstsommer – Sæterbesøk
06. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Høst – Fargesymfoni
07. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Høstvinter – Frostnatt
08. Rasmussen: De åtte årstider: Vinter – Arktisk katedral
09. Alterhaug: Søv
10. Rasmussen: Pols fra Dunderlandsdalen
11. Rasmussen: Spela min son


Thanks to the Original customer!