MGV

Tri vendur blés ho i den høgaste sky

World Music in a frame of Scandinavian contemporary jazz - commissioned work

The commissioned piece “Tri vendur blés ho i den høgaste sky” offers a fresh blend of medieval ballads, newer folk music, contemporary jazz and tunes from the Middle East. Viddal paints a rich and varied tonal language that keeps us at the edge of our seat all the way through, so we can discern all the details and tones of the music that is a nomadic walk through space and time.

Other highlights from the Norwegian side of the (Molde)festival included reedist and composer Mathilde Grooss Viddal’s performance with her tenet, FriEnsemblet

- John Murph, Down Beat


The rich heritage of Norwegian medieval ballad music has been revitalised in later years. FriEnsemblet presents a selection of these ballads, combining medieval traditions with contemporary jazz influences with two strong soloists: Norwegian folk singer Unni Bokasp and French-Syrian flute player Naïssam Jalal.

at Molde Internationale Jazzfestival 2019, Hemnesjazz 2019, Riksscenen 2019, NasjonalBiblioteket 2018, Vossajazz 2018, Åpningen av det Europeiske Kulturarvåret, Freiasalen #EuropeforCultur 2018 and UNESCOS International Jazz Day at Kampenjazz 2018.

– En bærende idé er å bygge på balladenes internasjonale utgangspunkt, for hva er vel egentlig norsk kulturarv annet enn møte mellom kulturer?

- Mathilde Grooss Viddal


Viddal’s FriEnsemble includes 10 very strong names in jazz and folk music:

FriEnsemble 2019:

Mathilde Grooss Viddal Sax, bass-and contrabass clarinet
Naïssam Jalal Flute
Unni Boksasp Vokal
Kristoffer Berre Alberts Alto sax
Per Willy Aaserud Trumpet, electronics
Øyvind Brække Trombone
Britt Pernille Frøholm Hardingfele, violin
Tellef Kvifte Keyboards, laptop, electronics, flute
Knut Kvifte Nesheim Drums, vibraphone
Egil Kalman Bass