Helgasong by Berit Opheim, Tore Brunborg, Nils Økland, Irene Tillung, Mats Eilertsen

Opheim, Tillung, Økland, Brunborg, and Eilertsen revitalize beautiful and forgotten folk tunes and Christmas hymns on the album Helgasong.

The album Helgasong is a revitalization of religious folk tunes from Voss, Hardanger, Eksingedalen, and Øygarden. Christmas hymns that have been sung in Norway for hundreds of years are presented here in local variations and new arrangements. The older singing tradition is present in the background, with a lone voice singing to itself, or in harmony in old rooms. Hymn texts that have held deep meaning for many still endure. "In the deepest darkness, the sky became clear" is how the second verse of No koma Guds englar med helsing i sky by Elias Blix begins. These Advent and Christmas hymns remind us that light is reborn every Advent and Christmas, at the Winter Solstice, when it is darkest in the north.

Some of these folk tunes have not been used for many decades, so it is a great joy to bring them out of dormancy. The ensemble includes Irene Tillung on accordion, Mats Eilertsen on double bass, Nils Økland on fiddles, Tore Brunborg on saxophone, and Berit Opheim on vocals. All arrangements were developed collaboratively by the musicians, and the recording took place in August 2024 at Raundalskyrkja in Voss.

Berit Opheim is an award-winning Norwegian folk singer from Voss. She was educated at the Bergen Music Conservatory and the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1992, she has worked at the Ole Bull Academy in Voss and has also held positions at NTNU and the Norwegian Academy of Music.