Øyonn Groven Myhren et Anne Hytta are the bearers of a culture ingrained in the traditional music of Telemark. Øyonn grew up in a family where the tradition of the ballad (kveding) is still very much alive and belongs to a unique lineage. Anne learned to play the hardingfele violin with the greatest teachers of Telemark, who taught her a bow technique and a particular type of melodic ornamentation. With their duo Sogesong, the two musicians initiated an original dialogue that pays the greatest respect to the patrimony.

To this end, they use copies and reconstitutions of medieval instruments, such as the fidla with bowed strings and a lyre of seven strings, a copy of an instrument recently rediscovered on a farm in the south east of Norway. ‘A far away world’ – an extraordinary one – flourishes once more with astonishing youth.

-----------------------------------------

The name Anna Hytta is at the forefront of traditional Norwegian violin. A prodigious violinist, she is an improviser and composer who handles traditional heritage in an original and inventive manner. Her style plays out in the finesse of structure and traditional Norwegian tunes that she has at the tip of her fingers, which she colours with the consummate art of ornamentation.

Particularly interested in modal music, Anne Hytta also participates in projects centred on mediaeval music and the diverse world traditions. Accordingly, she plays with musicians born in Eastern Europe, Middle East, India, Tanzania, Brazil and so on. This interest was recognised with a grant from the Fond for utøvende kunstnere (Fund for performance artists), which allowed her to go and study with the famous Cretan musician Ross Daly.

Øyonn  Groven Myhren is the  daughter of the legendary kveder (singer of ballads or kveding) and researcher Dagne Groven Myhren, and the linguist Magne Myhren. She is also the granddaughter of the Norwegian composer, organist, music editor and ethnomusicologist Eivind Groven (1901-1977). She is part of a notable line and, in this regard, enjoys a certain status amongst the traditional musicians of her country. She is a reputed singer and also plays the lyre and the seljefløyte (willow flute). In addition to Norwegian folk music, she participates in numerous mediaeval music concerts, notably with the group Aurora Borealis.