Stjernebru
Det Norske Jentekor/Anne Karin Sundal-Ask
Gjermund Larsen (fiddle)
Frode Haltli (accordion)
rec. 2023, Uranienborg Church, Norway
SACD and Blu-ray discs: 5.0 DTS-HD MA 24/192 kHz / Dolby Atmos 7.0.4
2L Records 2L-178-SABD [62]

You might think there comes a point at which we’ve sort of had enough 2L releases of Nordic choral music with a flavour of contemporary and folk-music combined, but with each disc I receive from this source such mealy thoughts are immediately dispelled once the music fills the air.

Ørjan Matre has already made quite a name for himself as a composer in Norway with all kinds of large-scale works and interesting collaborations. With Stjernebru (Bridge of Stars) he has used Norwegian folk songs as a starting point, mixing the pure sound of the Norwegian Girls Choir with the more astringent sonorities of fiddle and accordion, and combining new arrangements of traditional tunes with a variety of improvisations and composed introductions and intermezzos.

The largely quiet nature of the music reflects the theme of the album, which can be seen as referring to the night sky. Contemporary choral musical effects are to be heard in moments such as the gorgeously close-harmony opening to Ned i vester soli glader and the sustained notes that enhance its atmosphere throughout. You can’t get much more traditional than the hypnotising fiddle and accordion duet To polsdanser fra Beitstad and the largely unadorned choral Ingerid Sletten, which develops into quite a movingly potent canon. Matre’s compositional style creates contrast in the improvisatory elements that colour the two Mellomspill tracks, the second of which ends with truly magical effects.

There are plenty of subtly stunning moments in this recording, such as the opening to Nu solen går ned, which grows out of a surprising tonally ambiguous statement into something transcendent, a chorale that gives way to a reprise of the opening bars, in turn setting up a traditional song made exotic by its musical surroundings. With its haunting pre-recorded voice, the closing minute of this track is almost worth the asking price of the entire album.

This is one of those recordings that might easily be overlooked on an initial inspection, but the results are very fine indeed and deliver much more than you might expect from the forces listed. As ever from this label, the recording is a sublime balance between detail and atmosphere, and the performances from all concerned can stand up to the closest of scrutiny and are deserving of the best sound reproduction kit you can find.

Dominy Clements

Contents
Stjernebru – Intro
Jeg vet en hvile 
Duett
To polsdanser fra Beitstad 
Ned i vester soli glader 
Mellomspill 1 
Liti Kjersti 
Ingerid Sletten 
Nu solen går ned
Sull til mor 
Johannes og Ingrid 
Mellomspill 2 
Syng i stille morgonstunder / Lux Aeterna 
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