BRITT PERNILLE FRØHOLM - Fokhaugen
Kviven Records KVI02
Britt Pernille Frøholm plays fiddle and Hardanger fiddle and has a deep passion for the musical history and traditions of the Nordfjord and Sunnmøre regions in the far Norwegian north-west. This album’s title is also the name of the home of the fiddler Ola Johannesson Kjelstad who, with his brother Ivar, under the tutelage of Peder Amundsen Kjelstad, promoted the national music of a still-young independent country making its mark on the world.
Britt has put together a CD which features the music and story of the Kjelstad brothers who, in their turn, had been influenced by the tradition-bearers of their time. As in several cultures at the time, itinerant musicians were an important part of the preservation and development of those traditions. Britt clearly falls within this continuing stream, and this collection of tunes shows us the vitality and scope of a music which went on to inspire future generations.
There is a wide range of tune styles, including hallings, springars, waltzes, wedding tunes, and even psalms, all played with an unerring clarity and deftness which shows a great respect for the music and also brings it vibrantly to life. There is a great variety of pace and each of the tunes captures the listener’s attention so that you can appreciate the subtlety of the playing.
There are comprehensive notes about the origins of the tunes and their authors in both Norwegian and English, and details of where to find source materials, making this a very informative as well as entertaining release.
Nok en enestående stykke norsk tradisjon!
www.froholm.com
Gordon Potter
This review appeared in Issue 138 of The Living Tradition magazine