Norwegian Accordion & Hardanger Violin Concert

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Saturday, July 12th, 2014
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Featuring Norwegian Accordion player Knut Erik Jensen and Violinist/Fiddler Skogen Sallstrom

The Arctic Memoirs Concert Tour presents a culturally rich and entertaining experience of varied Norwegian music with roots in Scandinavia�s traditional folk music. Full of youthful energy, Skogen S�llstr�m (violin) and Knut Erik Jensen (accordion) perform their interpretation of a selection of folk tunes known as Sl�tter, alongside popular works by Ole Bull, Edvard Grieg, and contemporary Sturla Eide.

A special feature of this concert is the Hardanger fiddle, Norway's unique traditional instrument that has eight or nine strings. As different rhythms and motifs are bowed on the four primary strings, additional under-strings resonate to create rich tones typical of its style.

Knut Erik Jensen Biography:

Norwegian pianist Knut Erik Jensen has performed over 150 solo concerts featuring Norwegian and international music on the North American continent since 2007. Mr. Jensen has appeared numerous times as a guest soloist in Europe and North America and completed his master's examination concert at the University of Trondheim, Norway playing Alexander Scriabin's piano concerto with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded two CDs of Norwegian piano music: "Edvard Grieg - Anniversary Collection" and "Nordic Elegance." Mr. Jensen's unusually rich musical background has given him versatility in many different genres and instruments. He started learning how to play the organ by himself from a very young age but his first main instrument was the classical accordion from the age of 7. He made a switch to the piano at the age of 17 after strong encouragements from the school ́s piano teacher and a discovery of Grieg's A minor concerto. He ended his career on solo accordion by winning the Norwegian Championship in 1999, won a first prize with the dance orchestra Jhohans, as well as a second place in the open solo class for entertainment music. In addition to his solo career, he has played in several rock bands, Perished being the most significant one with 3 CD releases. He has also worked with jazz and kletzmer musicians in the project orchestra Kilombo as an accordionist, recording the CD Bordello Music and performing concert tours throughout Norway. www.knuterikjensen.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXcWl0Z4om0&list=UU9mwOlfyNBg7d9V50RNZDdA

Piano composition in memoriam of victims of Ut�ya, Oslo shooting in 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAennujSQtI&index=32&list=UU9mwOlfyNBg7d9V50RNZDdA

Skogen Sallstrom Biography:

Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska Skogen S�llstr�m traveled to Scandinavia at an early age where he began his career as a 10 year old street musician. Later touring Europe and Egypt both solo and in ensembles he has played with various groups and orchestras including the renowned Norwegian folk-rock band Vamp. After receiving his bachelor in Classical violin performance from Trondheim's Music Conservatory (NTNU Institute of Music), Skogen focused his time on further developing his interest in the tonal and rhythmical subtleties of culturally traditional music. Now a Masters Degree Candidate specializing in Norwegian Music, Skogen combines fresh nuances from his own varied musical backgrounds in his performance of Norway�s traditional folk music.