Annbjørg Lien
Prisme

The Hardanger fiddle. This fascinating instrument, which inspired many compositions by the renowned Edvard Grieg—particularly the symphonies dedicated to H. Ibsen's "Peer Gynt"—comes to us enchanting and alluring with notes from the modern fairy Annbjørg Lien and her exotic sounds permeated with the charisma of Norwegian folklore.

The fairytale sound of these thirteen tracks exudes passion for the traditional music of a land eternally stretched between fjords and valleys, where from one area to another, the compositional and performance techniques vary in a surprising manner. A peculiarity of the Hardanger fiddle is that it produces an echo-like sound, brilliantly using the eight-to-nine string expansion where the last four reproduce in the "echo," transforming it into a symbol of uniqueness in the sound of the Nordic nation.

Various are the atmospheres offered by the talented Annbjørg who, while showcasing her remarkable technical skills, puts her virtuosity at the service of noble melodies full of aesthetics and class, deeply entwined with the roots of Northern European musical tradition. We transition from airy and agile compositions like the opener "Villvinter" to symphonies of overflowing nostalgia like the wonderful "Cantabile" (written for her by the ethereal-folk siren Tone Hulbaekmo), and reach the combination of the aforementioned atmospheres in the mysterious charm of the structured "Korstog."

Lien is accompanied throughout the duration of this precious record by skilled and interesting musicians such as the excellent percussionist Rune Arnesen, keyboardist-composer Bjørn Rasch, and especially one of the gurus of Norwegian folk, Hans-Fredrik Jacobsen, who here handles flutes and Kantele (a traditional Finnish harp-like instrument). It is important to highlight that the skills of the aforementioned musicians are pleasantly appreciated, making the sound cohesive and effective, as if it were a real band.

"Prisme" thus presents itself as a treasure chest of enchanted landscapes, allowing us to imagine folk ballads between seas and mountains, where hay bales and fishermen's boats blend, magically transported into music by the grace of the lovely violinist, who gently takes us by the hand, bringing us back to times of knights and fair-haired ladies in multicolored costumes. For those nostalgic for distant eras.