Øyonn Groven Myhren & Marit Karlberg – Tostemt (Heilo, 2025)
Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg reimagine Norwegian fiddle traditions through two-part vocal arrangements on Tostemt, out May 2 on Heilo. Drawing inspiration from the layered sounds of the Hardanger fiddle, the duo adapts traditional dance melodies from Telemark and Valdres into lovely harmonized vocal performances.
The album features thirteen tracks, both instrumental and vocal dance tunes, many of which have been handed down through generations by ear. Five selections explore village and round dance rhythms, including melodies originally composed for instruments but later set to lyrics. In several tracks, the singing is supported by langeleik (droned zither) and lyre.
Myhren and Karlberg emphasize the importance of regional traditions of vocalized dance music, known by various terms: tullar slåttane in Telemark, hullar låttane in Valdres, and lèt på kjafte in Hallingdal. These practices preserve a wide range of melodic, rhythmic, and tonal nuances that offer insight into older layers of Norwegian folk music.
The album was recorded at Høvik Church by engineer Tor-Magne Hallibakken and produced by Leiv Solberg.
About Øyonn Groven Myhren and Marit Karlberg
Øyonn Groven Myhren (b. 1969) and Marit Karlberg (b. 1967) are two of Norway’s leading traditional vocalists. Myhren performs with vocals and lyre, while Karlberg sings and plays the langeleik.
Both artists were core members of the vocal ensemble Dvergmål, which released two albums: Visor og kvæde frå Blåberglandet (Grappa, 1996) and Song i himmelsalar (Heilo/Grappa, 2004). Notably, the first was nominated for a Spellemann Award, Norway’s equivalent of the Grammy.
More than 25 years after their initial collaboration, the duo has reunited to explore vocal interpretations of fiddle music from Telemark and Valdres. In addition, they have revived a repertoire of traditional dance songs, performed with accompaniment on lyre and langeleik.
Individually, both Myhren and Karlberg have built distinguished careers as kvedarar (traditional singers), with numerous solo recordings, collaborations, awards, and folk music competition honors to their names.
Buy Tostemt.
Author: Madison Quinn
