Ole et Knut Aastad Bråten are brothers on stage and in real life. They are two of today’s most brilliant representatives of the tradition of Norwegian langeleik zither – as much through their concerts as in their teaching. They play in a duo and in bigger ensembles, performing ancient and contemporary compositions from the oral and written tradition.  Over the past few years they have dived into the reproduction of an astonishing musical patrimony: ‘the bell tune tradition’. During the concert at the Alhambra, they will perform this repertoire, as well as tunes from traditional dances (springar et halling). 

Ole and Knut combine singing with the langeleik, which is an unusual practice. They also perform medieval songs accompanied by the zither, and the presence of a dancing horse – a puppet manipulated by the musicians themselves, a rare thing in traditional Western culture. They offer many points of entry into this particularly rich and original musical and visual world.

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Ole Aastad Bråten is the director of the Valdres Folk Museum. In this role, he has commissioned a variety of exhibitions: ‘Folk music and Nationalism’ in 2013, and ‘Langeleiken – instrument of all Norway’ in 2014, an event that focused on the most ancient traditions of Norway’s string instruments.

Knut Aastad Bråten has worked for a number of years as the editor in chief of the only folk magazine in Norway, the Bladet Folkmusikk, and the cultural magazine Syn og Segn. He is also a member of UNESCO for intangible cultural heritage.

Knut and Ole have won the famous ‘Competition for the traditional music and dance of Norway’ ten times, in the category of langeleik. They are particularly active on the music scene, as much as musicians as musicologists, and notably as virtuosos on, and experts of, the langeleik and its various repertories. Today they are the reference for whoever is interested in the playing, making and history of the instrument, which is so emblematic of Norway’s traditional music.

Last minute :  "l'Art de la Cithare norvégienne Langeleik", the meeting with the Aastad Braten brothers - Sunday March, 1st, 15h30 has been cancelled.