Benedicte Maurseth (born 7 February 1983) is a

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 ...

traditional folk singer and musician.

Career

Maurseth picked up the fiddle at the age seven, and studied with Knut Hamre. In addition to studies at the

University of Bergen The University of Bergen ( no, Universitetet i Bergen, ) is a research-intensive state university located in Bergen, Norway. As of 2019, the university has over 4,000 employees and 18,000 students. It was established by an act of parliament in 194 ...

(minor in art history) she attended the Ole Bull Academy at

Voss 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, ...

in the period 2004–06. She immersed herself in the baroque instrument

viola d'amore The viola d'amore (; Italian for "viol of love") is a 7- or 6- stringed musical instrument with sympathetic strings used chiefly in the baroque period. It is played under the chin in the same manner as the violin. Structure and sound The vio ...

next to her main instrument

Hardanger fiddle A Hardanger fiddle ( no, hardingfele) is a traditional stringed instrument considered to be the national instrument of Norway. In modern designs, this type of fiddle is very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings (rather than ...

. Maurseth is also a kveder and currently works as a freelance musician based in Bergen. Since 2005 she has had extensive concert activities nationally and internationally (including in USA, Canada, India, Tyskland, Belgia and in Island), both as a solo artist and in collaborations. In Germany she played at

TFF Rudolstadt TFF may stand for: Festivals * Taipei Film Festival, an annual film festival in Taipei, Taiwan * Taormina Film Fest, international film festival in Taormina * Telluride Film Festival, an annual film festival in Telluride, Colorado, USA * TFF Rudol ...

in 2010 and at the 'folkBALTICA' 2011. Together with Knut Hamre,

Nils Økland Nils Andreas Økland (10 June 1882 – 1969) was a Norwegian Esperantist and teacher in Stord (Hordaland), Norway. He spent some years in his youth on the island Utsira, where his father was a school teacher. Nils Økland was married to Hanna ...

and

Sigbjørn Apeland Sigbjørn Apeland (born 10 May 1966 was raised in Sveio, Norway) is a musician (organ and Harmonium) and scientist, known from several recordings and for his work in the borderland between folk music, church music and improvisational music. Car ...

, Maurseth released the album ''Rosa I Botnen'' in 2006, a production with traditional music from Hardanger, performed on fiddles from the 1600s and 1700s. This is the oldest Hardanger fiddles that are preserved, and was recorded for the first time. In 2008, Maurseth together with Berit Opheim, Åsne Valland Norli and Kristin Skaare, released the album ''Fodnes'', which was based on folk music from Hardanger collected by Geirr Tveitt. In 2009 she composed new music for a theater version of Jon Fosse lyrics, Andvake, and she performed on stage together with actor Svein Tindberg. Her music from this underlie the first solo record ''Alde'' (2010). She has also on several occasions acted together with Jon Fosse himself. Together with Gabriel Fliflet,

Stein Urheim Stein Urheim (born 4 March 1979 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and composer, known from cooperations with Gabriel Fliflet and Mari Kvien Brunvoll. Career The Bergen-based guitarist Stein Urheim's name has appeared in a ...

, Kristoffer Voght and

Per Jørgensen Per Jørgensen (born 9 September 1952) is a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist with trumpet as his main instrument, also known for his vocal contributions, in collaboration with Dag Arnesen, Knut Kristiansen, Alex Riel, Jon Christensen, Jon Bal ...

she released the album ''Åresong'' in 2011, performing lyrics by Jon Fosse. ''Åresong'' was a commissioned works at the

Bergen International Festival Bergen International Festival ( no, Festspillene i Bergen) is an annual international music and cultural festival in Bergen, Norway. Biography The Bergen International festival is the largest festival in the Nordic countries in its genre and ha ...

in 2010.

Honours

*2007: Young Folk Musician of the Year in Norway

Bibliography

*2014: ''Å vera ingenting – Samtalar med spelemannen Knut Hamre'', Samlaget, preface by Jon Fosse

Discography

Solo albums

*2010: ''Alde'' ( Heilo Records) *2019: ''Benedicte Maurseth ( Heilo Records)'' *2022: ''Hárr (Hubro)''

Collaborations

;With Knut Hamre *2006: ''Rosa I Botnen'' (Heilo Records) *2012: ''Anima'' (Heilo Records) ;With Åsne Valland Nordli, Berit Opheim & Kristin Skaare *2008: ''Fodne Ho Svara Stilt'' (Heilo Records) ;Duo with Åsne Valland Nordli *2014: ''Over Tones'' ( ECM Records)

References

External links

*
Benedicte Maurset Website Berlin mai 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maurseth, Benedicte 21st-century Norwegian violinists 21st-century Norwegian singers Norwegian folk singers ECM Records artists Heilo Music artists Norwegian folk musicians Musicians from Eidfjord 1983 births Living people 21st-century Norwegian women singers 21st-century violinists