Award-winning artist Hans Fredrik Jacobsen was born September 8, 1954, in Risør, Aust-Agder, southeastern Norway. He is a renowned Norwegian folk music multi-instrumentalist, composer, and musical instrument maker.
Hans Fredrik grew up in Risør and was exposed to music at an early age. His father played several musical instruments, and Hans Fredrik started playing the saxophone in the school band. Later, he learned how to play flute.
His musical influences included pop and folk music, so he put his flute aside and started playing guitar. At that time, he met acclaimed folk musician Ånon Egeland, who was touring the region.
Hans Fredrik started composing music at an early age, and learned how to improvise by playing the saxophone. The major change in Jacobsen’s life took place in the fall of 1976, when he enrolled in Toneheim Folkehøgskole near Hamar. Toneheim Folkehøgskol is a folk arts high school that specializes in music. There, Hans Fredrik met Tone Hulbaekmo from Tolga, and they later got married.
Another pivotal moment was Hans Fredrik’s encounter with flute and fiddle player Marius Nytrøen from Vingelen in Northern Østerdal. This led Hans Fredrik to start playing the beautiful willow flute (seljefløyte).
While studying music and literature in Oslo, Hans Fredrik and Tone met several musicians who later came to form the medieval music group Kalenda Maya. Their first album, Renaissance and medieval music, came out in 1985 and won the prestigious Spellemannpris (equivalent to an American Grammy).
Kalenda Maya released two additional albums, Norske Middelalderballader (1989) and Pilgrimsreiser (1997).
Together with Tone, Hans Fredrik published the children’s album Langt nord i skogen. The recording was a result of a competition for the National Concerts for Children and Youth Schools, and they won the Spellemann prize for best children’s album in 1988.
Hans Fredrik appeared on various Tone Hulbaekmo albums, including Kåmmå no, Svevende Jord and Kyrja. These world music recordings combined folk music with sounds from other cultures of the world.
His solo discography includes JóL (Via music, 1998), Vind (Heilo, 2004), Trå dansen (Heilo, 2013), Øre (Heilo, 2019) and Svadilja (Heilo, 2022).
Hans Fredrik Jacobsen has appeared as a guest musician and soloist on over 100 recordings with arists such as Sissel Kyrkjebø, Sondre Bratland, Elisabeth Andreassen, Henning Sommero, Secret Garden and Annbjørg Lien to mention a few.
He has also worked with poets Erik Bye, Haldis Moren Vesaas, Ove Røsbak and Ola Jonsmoen.
Hans Fredrik Jacobsen started making his own willow flutes and used them extensively on his fifth album Svadilja which highlights the willow flute as well as bird songs.
Hans Fredrik Jacobsen said: “To sit down and make a willow flute is something of the most beautiful I know of in this world. It has become a ritual every spring, when nature is waking up with a new life, the colors come to life, the sap rises in the trees, the birds are chirping, and the world becomes a better place to be. When the willow trees are just ripe, I head to the forest to make flutes in the old-fashioned way, just like it has been done for many years, here in Norway and other places. To make a good flute is pure happiness. From time to time in moments like this, when the forest presents itself green and full of life, I think to myself that everyone should do this, there are plenty of willows to take from, and it’s all free.”
On this video, Hans Fredrik Jacobsen shows you how to make a willow flute:
Discography:
Langt nord i skogen, with Tone Hulbaekmo & Jacobsen family orchestra (KKV, 1987)
JóL (Via music, 1998)
Vind (Heilo, 2004)
Trå dansen (Heilo, 2013)
Øre (Heilo, 2019)
Svadilja (Heilo, 2022)
With Kalenda Maya
Renaissance and medieval music (Simax 1985)
Norske Middelalderballader (KKV, 1989)
Pilegrimsreiser (KKV 1997)
(headline image: Hans Fredrik Jacobsen – Photo by Audun Strype)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.