QCD 9409 - NORGE, MITT NORGE!
Njål Sparbo - song
Atle Sponberg - violin
Christina Dimbodius - violin
Jon Sønstebø - viola
Mihai Fagarasan - cello
Magnus Söderberg - double bass
"Norge, mitt Norge!" is the first recording of an anthology of Norwegian songs, performed by Njål Sparbo. Most of the arrangements are by Knut Nystedt, and the rest by Sparbo himself.
Producer: Njål Sparbo
Digital editing: Njål Sparbo
Recording: Gerhard Hertzberg
Cover and photo: Bente Elisabeth Finserås
Recorded in Sofienberg kirke, Oslo, 2004
Released in 2005 by Quattro, Oslo, Norway
TOTAL PLAYING TIME 61:04
CONTENTS:
1 Nordmannen Ludvig Mathias Lindeman / Ivar Aasen: Millom Bakkar og Berg ut med Havet
2 Dei gamle Fjelli Christian Sinding / Ivar Aasen: Dei gamle Fjell i syningom er alltid eins aa sjaa
3 Der du gjekk fyre Eyvind Alnæs / Aasmund Olavsson Vinje: Dit fet gjev Vengjir til Foten min
4 I Rosenlud Rikard Nordraak / Johann S. Welhaven: I Rosenlund under Sagas Hal
5 So skal Gjenta hava det Eyvind Alnæs / Aasmund Olavsson Vinje: Den fagre Gjenta skal ut aa blenkja
6 Brudefærden i Hardanger Halfdan Kjerulf / Andreas Munch: Der aander en tindrende Sommerluft
7 Astri mi Astri Norsk trad: Astri mi Astri, som eine helt taa meg
8 Saag du nokkeNorsk trad: Såg du nokke kjærringa mi
9 Naar Fjordene blaaner Alfred Paulsen / John Olaf Paulsen: Naar Fjordene blaaner som Markens Fiol
10 Jeg lagde meg saa sildig Norsk trad: Jeg lagde meg saa sildig alt sent om en Kveld
11 Det lysnet i Skoven Sigurd Islandsmoen / Jørgen Moe: Det lysnet i Skoven, da ilede jeg frem!
12 Eg gjette Tulla Norsk trad: Eg gjette Tulla i femten aar
13 Aa, eg veit meg eit Land Adolf Thomsen / Elias Blix: Aa, eg veit meg eit Land langt der oppe mot Nord
14 Mit Hjerte og min Lyra Halfdan Kjerulf / Caralis: Alt lægger for din Fod jeg ned
15 Norsk Kjærlighedssang Halfdan Kjerulf / Henrik Wergeland: Ved Sjøen, den mørke, bekrandset af Tallen
16 Solefaldssang Ole Olsen / Nordahl Rolfsen: Naar solen falder bag Top og Tinde
17 Violen Johan S. Svendsen: Imellem visne Halmstraa
18 Eit syn Edvard Grieg / Aasmund Olavsson Vinje: Ei Gjente eg saag som gjorde meg fjaag
19 Ved Rondane Edvard Grieg / Aasmund Olavsson Vinje: No ser er atter slike Fjell og Dalar
20 Ja, vi elsker dette Landet Rikard Nordraak / Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Ja, vi elsker dette Landet
21 Gamle Norge Rikard Nordraak / Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: Der ligger et Land mod den evige Sne
22 Norge Alfred Paulsen / Theodor Caspari: Norge, mit Norge! - saa sover du tyst
FROM THE PREFACE:
"For freedom, Norway and being Norwegian, hooray!"
(Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Nobel Prize in Literature 1903)
In 2005 Norway can celebrate a hundred years of independence. In the period previous to the disbanding of the union with Sweden the cultural life of the country flourished tremendously. In order that other countries should recognise Norway as an independent nation, it was vital to give expression to what was truly Norwegian. When Christian Michelsen (Prime Minister 1905-07) led talks with the Swedes in 1905 he had the support of all his countrymen.
This period has given us some of the most beautiful songs ever written in Norway, and they are a highly treasured part of the cultural heritage. Some of the songs can seem exaggeratedly nationalistic today, but at the time they represented a vital sense of national awareness. There is many a striking picture and great admiration for the Norwegian country scenery.
Probably all artists strive to express certain essential themes that encourage particular attitudes, thereby helping their society to tackle the challenges of the present. Had it been today, Bjørnson would probably have declaimed:
For equality, humanity and peace in the world, hooray!