The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1981 in

Norwegian music Much has been learned about early music in Norway from physical artifacts found during archaeological digs. These include instruments such as the lur. Viking and medieval sagas also describe musical activity, as do the accounts of priests and pil ...

Events

April

* 10 – The 8th

Vossajazz Vossajazz or Vossa Jazz (established 19 December 1973) is an international jazz festival in Voss, Norway, which takes place annually during the week before Easter, and which also includes concerts throughout the year. The festival has been led by ...

started in

Voss, Norway Voss () is a municipality and a traditional district in Vestland county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen. Other villages include Bolstadøyri, Borstrondi, Evanger, Kvitheim, Mjølfjell, Opphe ...

(April 10 – 12).

May

* 20 – 9th

Nattjazz Bergen International Jazz Festival or Nattjazz, is one of the largest jazz festivals of Norway. The festival has a musical profile with an emphasis on ethnic and contemporary jazz. It is held annually in late May, coinciding with Festspillene ...

started in

Bergen, Norway Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, secon ...

(May 20 – June 3).

Albums released

Unknown date

A ;

The Aller Værste! The Aller Værste! (1979–1981) was a Norwegian rock band from Bergen, that was awarded Spellemannprisen for the album '' Materialtretthet'' (1980). Biography The Aller Værste! was influenced and inspired by punk, new wave, ska and regga ...

* ''Disniland I De Tusen Hjem'' (Den Gode Hensikt) G ;

Jan Garbarek Jan Garbarek () (born 4 March 1947) is a Norwegian jazz saxophonist, who is also active in classical music and world music. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Østfold, southeastern Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war, Czesław ...

* ''

Folk Songs Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has be ...

'' (ECM Records), with

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

, and

Egberto Gismonti Egberto Amin Gismonti (born December 5, 1947) is a Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist. Biography Gismonti was born in the small city of Carmo, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, into a musical family. His mother was from Sicily and his ...

* ''

Eventyr ''Eventyr'' is an album by Norwegian jazz composer and saxophonist Jan Garbarek, guitarist John Abercrombie and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in 1980 and released on the ECM label in 1981.

'' (ECM Records), with

Nana Vasconcelos Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

Palle Danielsson Nils Paul "Palle" Danielsson (born 15 October 1946) is a Swedish jazz double bassist born in Stockholm, Sweden. From 1974 to 1979, he was a member of Keith Jarrett's quartet. He is the brother of pianist Monica Dominique. Career Danielsson's ...

, and John Abercrombie * ''

Nude Ants ''Nude Ants'' is a live album by American pianist Keith Jarrett which was released by ECM Records in 1980. It was recorded during different live performances by Jarrett's 'European Quartet', featuring Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson and Jon Chris ...

'' (ECM Records), with

Keith Jarrett Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945) is an American jazz and classical music pianist and composer. Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey and later moved on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has also been a ...

, and

Jon Christensen Jon Christensen may refer to: * Jon Christensen (musician) Jon Ivar Christensen (20 March 1943 – 18 February 2020) was a Norwegian jazz drummer. He was married to actress, minister, and theater director Ellen Horn, Store Norske Leksikon (in ...

K ;

Karin Krog Karin Krog (born 15 May 1937) is a Norwegian jazz singer. Life and career Krog began singing jazz as a teenager and attracted attention while performing in jam sessions in Oslo. In 1955, she was hired by the pianist Kjell Karlsen to sing in ...

* ''I Remember You'' (Spotlite Records) R ;

Terje Rypdal Terje Rypdal (born 23 August 1947) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer. He has been an important member in the Norwegian jazz community, and has also given show concerts with guitarists Ronni Le Tekrø and Mads Eriksen as "N3". Career Rypdal ...

* ''

To Be Continued A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...

'' (ECM Records) S ;

Thorgeir Stubø Thorgeir Stubø (12 November 1943 – 22 October 1986) was a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and composer. He was the father of Jazz guitarist Håvard, jazz singer Kjersti and theater director Eirik Stubø, and grandfather of electronica musi ...

* ''

Notice Notice is the legal concept describing a requirement that a party be aware of legal process affecting their rights, obligations or duties. There are several types of notice: public notice (or legal notice), actual notice, constructive notice Se ...

'' (ECM Records) ;

Øystein Sunde Øystein Olaf Sunde (born 24 January 1947) is a Norwegian folk singer and guitarist. He is known for his high-speed guitar and banjo style and his satirical lyrics. Although often regarded as a comedian, Sunde is a versatile guitarist who has pl ...

* ''Barkebille Boogie'' (Philips Records) V ;

Jan Erik Vold Jan Erik Vold (born 18 October 1939) is a Norwegian lyric poet, jazz vocal reciter, translator and author. He was a core member of the so-called "''Profil'' generation", the circle attached to the literary magazine ''Profil''. Throughout his care ...

* ''Stein. Regn'' (PolyGram Records), with Kåre Virud and Telemark Blueslag

Deaths

; February * 1 –

Geirr Tveitt Geirr Tveitt (born Nils Tveit; 19 October 1908 – 1 February 1981) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. Tveitt was a central figure of the national movement in Norwegian cultural life during the 1930s. Life Early years Tveitt was born in Be ...

, composer and pianist (born

1908 Events January * January 1 – The British ''Nimrod'' Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton sets sail from New Zealand on the ''Nimrod'' for Antarctica. * January 3 – A total solar eclipse is visible in the Pacific Ocean, and is the 46 ...

). ; May * 22 – Reimar Riefling, classical pianist, music teacher, and music critic (born

1898 Events January–March * January 1 – New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York as the world's second largest. The city is geographically divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, B ...

Births

; February * 2 –

Julian Berntzen Julian Berntzen (born 2 February 1981 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian vocalist, pianist, violinist and composer known for his ''Magnetic North Orchestra''. He is the son of artist and guitarist Lasse Berntzen, and the grandson of actor Rolf B ...

, vocalist, pianist, violinist and composer. ; March * 18 –

Ingrid Olava Ingrid Olava Brænd Eriksen (known as Ingrid Olava, born 18 March 1981) is a Norwegian singer, musician and actress, best known for her debut single "Only Just Begun" from 2007 and as a backup singer for Madrugada. After hearing her live perform ...

, singer, pianist, and songwriter. * 25 –

Cato Sundberg Cato Sundberg (born 25 March 1981) is a Norwegian musician (vocals and guitar) and songwriter, best known as the front man of pop group Donkeyboy. Sundberg founded the group in 2005 with, amongst others, his brother Kent. In 2009, the pair were n ...

, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter,

Donkeyboy Donkeyboy (occasionally stylised as donkeyboy) is a synthpop band from Drammen, Norway, formed in 2005. The band consists of Cato Sundberg (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kent Sundberg (synth, vocals), Peter Michelsen (guitar, backing vocals) and Thoma ...

. ; April * 7 –

Amund Maarud Amund Maarud (born 7 April 1981 in Nes, Akershus, Norway) is a Norwegian blues/rock musician (guitar, vocals) and composer, known as a solo artist and as frontman of rock bands The Grand (2005-2010) and the duo «Morudes» (2010 -) with his broth ...

, blues and rock guitarist. * 27 –

Hilde Marie Kjersem Hilde Marie Kjersem, also known as Marie Munroe, (born 27 April 1981 in Ålesund, Norway) is a Norwegian artist, musician and songwriter signed to Warner Music Norway. She started out as a jazz musician, but has had an organic and natural develo ...

, singer and songwriter. ; June * 16 –

Ola Kvernberg Ola Kvernberg (born 16 June 1981) is a Norwegian jazz musician known for his virtuosic string swing violin playing and his international performances. He is the son of traditional musicians Liv Rypdal Kvernberg and Torbjørn Kvernberg, and the br ...

, jazz violinist and composer. ; July * 13 –

Sigurd Hole Sigurd Hole (born 13 July 1981) is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass) from Rendalen living in Oslo. Biography Sigurd Hole was born in Elverum, Norway, and has worked in jazz ensembles and presetented content related to Norwegian folk mu ...

, jazz upright bassist ,

Eple Trio Eple Trio (initiated 2004 at Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo) is a Norwegian jazz trio including graduate students from the Norwegian Academy of Music (2008). Biography The trio has since its inception in 2004 produced four critically acclai ...

. * 28 –

Lars Fredrik Frøislie Lars Fredrik Frøislie (born 28 July 1981 in Hønefoss, Norway) is a Norwegian musician. His main instruments are keyboards and drums. He is also a music producer and runs Termo Records together with Jacob Holm-Lupo. Frøislie mainly uses vintag ...

, vocalist, keyboardist and drummer. * 29 –

Gjermund Larsen Gjermund Larsen (born 29 July 1981 in Verdal, Norway) is a Norwegian traditional folk musician (violin) and composer, known from several bands and recordings. Career Larsen is a trained musician from the Ole Bull Academy at Voss, and the tradit ...

, traditional folk music violinist and composer. ; August * 3 –

Erlend Tvinnereim Erlend Tvinnereim (born 3 August 1981 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian tenor based in Zürich, Switzerland. He has in recent years been much used as a concert singer in Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavia, and in the season 08/09 he performed a ...

, operatic tenor. ; October * 24 ** Fredrik Mikkelsen, jazz guitarist. ** Lucy Swann, English musician, vocalist, and composer, living in Norway. * 26 –

Erlend Slettevoll Erlend Slettevoll (born 26 October 1981) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, known from cooperation with musicians like Ola Kvernberg, Petter Wettre, Heidi Skjerve, Kjetil Møster, Steinar Raknes and Espen Aalberg. Career Slettevoll was born in Vold ...

, jazz pianist and keyboarder. * 28 –

Andreas Loven Andreas Loven (born 28 October 1981 in Tromsø, Norway) is a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz pianist. Career Loven was raised in Oslo, where he was taught classical piano by his grandmother from the age of six. 23 years old, and briefly after finishi ...

, jazz pianist. * 29 –

Lene Alexandra Lene Alexandra Øien (born 29 October 1981 in Trøgstad, Norway) is a Norwegian singer, television personality and model. History and career 2001–06: Career beginnings Alexandra was a model for the FHM magazine as well for the Norwegian List ...

, singer and model. ; November ; December * 17 –

Kim Myhr Kim Myhr (born 17 December 1981 in Trondheim, Norway) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer in the field of experimental music. Career Kim Myhr (born 1981) is an active voice of the creative music scene in Norway, both as a composer and as a gu ...

, jazz guitarist. * 20 – John Olav Nilsen, vocalist and songwriter,

John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen (translated as ''John Olav Nilsen & Company'') was a Norwegian rock-pop band from Loddefjord, Bergen, Norway. It was fronted by singer-songwriter and main vocalist John Olav Nilsen (born 20 December 1982). The lyrics a ...

. * 24 –

Solveig Heilo Solveig Heilo (born December 24, 1981), simply known as Sol Heilo, is a Norwegian composer, artist, musician, music producer, arranger, designer and costume designer. She is mostly known for the band Katzenjammer. Sol works in different genres, s ...

, composer and percussionist, Katzenjammer. ; Unknown date *

Ivar Loe Bjørnstad Ivar Loe Bjørnstad (born 1981 in Surnadal, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz and rock musician (drums), brother of the dancer Marit Loe Bjørnstad (1983) and the singer Ingebjørg Loe Bjørnstad (1978). Career Bjørnstad studied jazz at the Norweg ...

, jazz and rock drummer. *

Todd Terje Terje Olsen (born 1981), known professionally as Todd Terje, is a Norwegian DJ, songwriter, and record producer. His stage name is a homage to house music producer Todd Terry. Called "King of the summer jams" by ''Mixmag'', "one third of the Ho ...

, DJ, songwriter, and record producer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 In Norwegian Music Norwegian music

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway *Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including the ...

Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

1980s in Norwegian music

Events

April

May

Albums released

Unknown date

Deaths

Births

See also

References