Guro Kvifte Nesheim & Floating Sofa Quartet – Kystnært (Taragot Sounds, 2024)
The sea has historically linked different coastal cultures, and while traditional music across these regions shares commonalities, they also feature unique differences. In pursuit of capturing authenticity, collectors have often sought out remote areas, but ironically, many distinctive expressions from these regions may have originated from continental influences brought by sea. Fiddle master Guro Kvifte Nesheim and Floating Sofa Quartet (FSQ) explore and expertly combine these musical traditions beautifully on Kystnært using both traditional and contemporary instruments to revitalize these coastal expressions.
Nesheim recounts how her collaboration with FSQ began in 2021, after she subbed with the ensemble. The music resonated with her, reminding her of her roots on Norway’s southern coast, which had long been influenced by neighboring coastal cultures. Inspired, she proposed a joint concert with FSQ, focusing on music from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. This led her to seek guidance from Ånon Egeland, a master fiddler from the region.
In January 2023, Nesheim visited Egeland in Risør, where she was introduced to a vast repertoire of tunes from southern Norway. These tunes formed the core of the album, while FSQ sourced additional material from archives and collections across their home countries. This album showcases the rich cultural exchange facilitated by sea routes, featuring tracks like:
“Devil Among the Sailors”: A set starting with a polska from Anders Jeppsson’s collection, followed by variations of the tune known as “Devil’s Dream” or “Devil Among the Tailors”.
“Svinge-Kjersti”: This features a svingedans from Carl-Erik Berndt’s collection and a springdans taught by Egeland, both originating from Skurup.
“Itämeri-sottiisit”: Includes a sotteinen recorded by Erkki Itäkylä and a Rejlænder by Madvig Vilsen, showcasing the movement of tunes across the Baltic and Scandinavian regions.
“Ola Dyrmyrs Riler”: Two tunes from Sigurd Fjeldstad, learned from the notorious Ola Dyrmyr.
“Snikkarvalsen”: A waltz by Salve Austenå, rediscovered by Nesheim as part of this project.
“Norske Polsker fra Bornholm”: Features “Norsk Polsk” tunes from Lars Ipsen’s collection, reflecting Norwegian influences on Bornholm.
“Reinlender etter Gustav Olsen Berge”: A tune from Fjeldstad’s childhood idol, Gustav Olsen Berge.
“Tveitesmeden Lorens”: Comprises a waltz from Fjeldstad and a waltz from Lorens Brolin, a notable fiddler from Scania.
“Tarald från Korpo”: A reel associated with Baltic music and an Engelska from Johannes Viktor Eklund.
“Bjørnen” and “Bjønnen”: These bear-themed tunes are from the collection of Christian Olsen and a 1955 recording of Anders Schulze.
“Sjømannsriler”: A set of reels associated with sailors, featuring contributions from Fjeldstad and Lindholm.
“Sisuleeraus”: Two polkas showcasing regional variations of a popular coastal tune.
For a decade, Floating Sofa Quartet has been integrating Nordic folk music across national borders, aiming to preserve and renew these traditions. The band won the ‘Folk Album of the Year’ at the Danish Music Awards in 2019 for their album Neighbourhood.
Through Kystnært, Guro Kvifte Nesheim and the Floating Sofa Quartet illustrate how traditional music continues to evolve through collaboration and cultural exchange.
Musicians: Guro Kvifte Nesheim on fiddle, Hardanger d’amore; Floating Sofa Quartet: Mads Kjøller Henningsen on flute, Nordic bagpipes, reed organ (track 7), triangle; Leija Lautamaja on melodeon, reed organ; Clara Tesch on fiddle; and Malte Zeberg on double bass.
Buy Kystnært.
Author: Sonia Keller
