Posts Tagged Music
Latin rhythm in Gamlebyen
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on January 18, 2011
José Leguina: Gamlebyen, Tangood
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on January 18, 2011
Cool! Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad’s Old Town, now has a band, and a CD, named after it. And not a bad one either you’ll find, if like me you are partial to a bit of Latin music. Of course I had to feature the man behind it, José Leguina, on this blog. So I asked him to tell me a bit about himself 
I was born here in 1974, and have lived most of my life in Fredrikstad, the last three in Gamlebyen. My father is Spanish and my mother is Norwegian. I have two boys, so when I’m not playing music, I hang out with them.
I got my first guitar when I was 10, but didn’t start playing until I was 17. I started playing in a hardcore band called My Right Choice 15 years ago. Soon the musical inspiration from my childhood took over, however. Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Elvis, Bob Marley, classical music and of course different types of Latin music became my references when I wrote my songs.
I’ve never called myself a singer or a guitarist. I just wanted to create little melodies and play along with friends. I have a full-time job – and I’m very happy with that. I work as a culture consulent and my office is located in Gamlebyen as well. Which means I hardly have to leave this place!
I have had a single out before, ‘Songs for Sunday morning’, and an album, ‘Whatever’, with a band called Sunday Morning. This new project is called ‘Gamlebyen’ and our first CD ‘Tangood’ is in the shops now. Basically we are just a group of friends who wanted to make a CD. We rehearsed a couple of times, and just started recording. The official release was yesterday (17 Jan 2011), so we don’t know much about sales yet.
It’s hard to say what I love the most about living in the Old Town. Maybe watching my son going down the ramparts with the sledge in winter, or sitting on a bench watching all the people on the market in the summertime. And of course Månefestivalen*, or just taking a beer with a friend in Tamburen**. I can go on and on…
Gamlebyen, Tangood is available from good record shops in Norway, and from www.platekompaniet.no, 169Kr for the CD, or 79Kr for a MP3 download (10 songs)
* Månefestivalen (Gamlebyen’s most popular festival, taking place in the Old Town every year in late July)
** Tamburen (the bar at the back of Restaurant Major Stuen, a popular place with outdoor sitting in summer.
Det Lyser I Stille Grender (Norwegian Christmas Song)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on December 4, 2010
Christmas 2010 concerts in Østfold
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on December 4, 2010
Not in the Christmas mood yet? Well a Christmas concert might help you get there. Here is a selection of some of the concerts, big and small, taking place throughout the county this month.
- 4 Dec Christmas concert with Rita Eriksen in Immanuel’s Church, Halden. 6pm, 325Kr (tickets from Brygga Kultursal) www.bryggakultursal.no
- 5 Dec Christmas concert in Hvaler Church (free)
- 5 Dec Concert with the Nordic Tenors in Brygga Kultursal, Halden. 6pm and 8.30pm, 375Kr. www.bryggakultursal.no
- 5 Dec Hanne Krogh and the three tenors in Fredrikstad Cathedral. 6.30pm, 340Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 6 Dec Hanne Krogh and the three tenors in Moss Church. 6.30pm, 340Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 7 Dec Christmas concert with Erik-André Hvidsten in Sarpsborg Church. 7pm, 245Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 7 Dec Christmas concert with the Oslo Gospel Choir in Askim kulturhus, Askim. 7pm, 400Kr. www.billettluka.no
- 9 Dec Christmas concert with Erik-André Hvidsten in Østre Fredrikstad Church, Gamlebyen. 7pm, 245Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 9 Dec Det Norske Blåseensemble (the Norwegian Wind Ensemble) play Handel’s Messiah in Immanuel’s Church, Halden. 7pm, 150-200Kr. http://billett24.no/ (or on the door)
- 10 Dec Pre-Christmas concert in Eidsberg Church (free)
- 10 Dec ‘Stille Natt, Hellige Natt’ concert in Jeløy Church, Moss. 6pm, 328Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 17 Dec ‘Julenatt’ concert with Rein Alexander in Glemmen Church, Fredrikstad. He is accompanied by 14-year-old Martin Enger Holm. 6pm, 320Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 18 Dec ‘Julenatt’ with Rein Alexander in Tune Church. Same as above. 6pm, 320Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 19 Dec Parkteatret’s big Christmas concert in Moss. Profits go to Save the Children. 7pm, 250Kr. www.parkteatret.com
- 19 Dec Christmas concert in the potato cellar in Røed Gård, Jeløya. Awaiting info.
- 19 Dec Christmas concert with the Hvaler Trivselskor in Spjærøy Church (free)
- 20 Dec ‘A Christmas festival’ concert in Fredrikstad Cathedral. With Norwegian pop idol Didrik Solli -Tangen and the Østfold Symphony Orchestra. 7pm and 9pm, 280Kr. www.billettservice.no
- 21 Dec ‘Stille Natt, Hellige Natt’ concert in Tune Church. 9.30pm, 328Kr. www.billettservice.no
Christmas concert at Oslo Spektrum (2009)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on November 25, 2010
Sissel Kyrkjebø: Norway’s best soprano
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on November 25, 2010
Born in Bergen on 24 June 1969, Sissel Kyrkjebø (widely known as Sissel) started singing early, and by the age of 9 she had already joined her first choir. In 1984, 14-year-old Sissel was making her television debut on the NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), and later that year she met Rune Larsen, who would eventually become her personal manager. In May 1986 Sissel performed live from Grieghallen in Bergen during the intermission of the Eurovision Song Contest – a performance watched by millions, and Sissel’s first taste of international fame. In October that year, she released her first album, which sold over 300,000 copies, a record for Norway. Two months later, the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet selected Sissel as ‘The Name of the Year’, and the following year, not 18 yet, Sissel received the prestigious Årets Spelleman, the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy Award. A star was born.
Sissel has since then lived up to her earlier promise, and is widely recognised as one of Norway’s foremost artists. Highlights of her career include singing the Olympic Hymn at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer; duets with stars such as Plácido Domingo, Charles Aznavour, José Carreras, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among others; and her participation on the Titanic film soundtrack. Sissel received her first Grammy nominations in 2007 for a collaboration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Her combined solo record sales (not including soundtracks and other albums to which she contributed) amount to 10 million albums, most of them sold in Norway, a country with 4.7 million people. More info about Sissel at www.sissel.net
Debut concert at Carnegie Hall today
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on October 10, 2010
An interview with Aksel Kolstad
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on October 10, 2010
Aksel Kolstad (born 22 April 1981) is an award-winning Norwegian composer, pianist, and stand-up comedian. With his unique style, he brings a fresh perspective to classical music, engaging audiences with his on-stage mix of athletics, comedy and music, all presented in very colourful fashion (literally!). He kindly agreed to answer a few questions I put to him before his debut show at Carnegie Hall in New York City today.
…
Aksel, you grew up in Fredrikstad in the 1980-1990s. What was it like?
A lot of ‘jantelov’*, which I finally defeated, but great nature and a loving family that made me who I am today – fearless and entertaining. I watched the DJ Cat show a lot on Sky. God knows how I miss that cat!
You are now based in New York. How did you end up there?
Actually I am based in Oslo, but have apartments in both Tallinn and New York. So I travel a lot and yes, I am very much in NYC. If you want to get somewhere in the entertaining industry, you need to blossom in NYC. Then Japan. So next stop is Japan.
You are playing at Carnegie Hall today, not a bad achievement for a kid from Østfold. How do you feel about that?
I am already planning my second performance there 
You have a well documented fascination for George Gershwin. What appeals to you so much about his work?
He takes the best out of two genres. That is what I love to do. To pick something apart, and put something new together.
And back home, are there any Norwegian musicians-composers you look up to?
Alive: Wolfgang Plagge. Dead: Geirr Tveitt.
Your style, mixing humour and music, is quite unique. Why this approach?
When you laugh, you are more open to new things. My music is contemporary, so I figured I’d give the crowd a good laugh first. Besides, I’m funny to look at, so then I just do what I am best at. Being funny and playing my own music.
How often do you come back to Fredrikstad?
I’m there as often as possible. At least once a month!
What do you like best about the town?
Verdensspeilet!**
And about Østfold?
The nature.
…
Read more about Aksel Kolstad at www.akselkolstad.com and about his Cafe de Concert concept at www.cafedeconcert.no
*Jantelov: Definition at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jante_Law
** Verdensspeilet: Fredrikstad’s most popular cafe www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/11/verdensspeilet-fredrikstad/