Midsummer 2009 in Ål
It was a midsummer to remember in Ål as the 2009 NM i Folkemusikk (Norwegian National Championships in Folk Music) began with the first competition and a public dance at the local Folkepark.
Well-known Norwegian recording artist Odd Nordstoga opened the evening with a very clever and well-done speech about the historic nature of this event (which this year combined both Landskappleiken and Landsfestivalen) and making humorous references to what one won't find at this festival (for example, Alexander Rybak) — and what one will (the guys who dance behind Rybak) .
The opening competition category was "Open Class", a competition meant for groups or individuals that don't fit in any of the other categories of the competition. It's also a category that is meant to foster new ideas and new combinations.
A young duo called "Nina & Audun" won open class. Odd Nordstoga's group, Blåmann Blåmann, came in second.
A standout entry that took 4th was "Kvedarkvintetten" from Hallingdal, made up of five young ladies (two groups of sisters!) who sang in the traditional style. It's worth noting that the genes of kveding run in their families as their mothers made their mark in traditional music a number of years earlier.
One of my personal favorites was Helen Myklemyr Bolstad and John Oddvar Kandal from Nordfjord who gave lovely reditions of tunes from Nordfjord. Another interesting entry was a young man, Andreas Jordhøy, on harmonica.
After the competition, there was a public dance with music provided by Kvarts and a reunion of Hallingdal's Toradertrioen. The longest day of the year was used to its fullest as the crowd danced into the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
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You mentioned the quintet of five young ladies (two groups of sisters, called “Kvedarkvintetten”) who sang in the traditional Hallingdal style at the opening ceremonies. I took special interest in that group because two of them are related to me. Besides the kveding group entry, my cousins did well in these categories: Tonje Risdal Liahagen (with Gjermund Braaten) placed ninth in Dans Hardingfele Senior, and Silje Risdal Liahagen won the Vokal Junior competition. Congratulations, girls!
The other three girls in the quintet come from the talented Myhr family. Their father is Martin Myhr, the famous laus dancer from Hallingdal. Helga Myhr placed third in Dans Hardingfele Junior, and also placed eighth in Spel Hardingfele Junior.
The lovely young ladies are all quite talented. I have only listed their accomplishments in this kappleik, but I am sure they contribute to the community of Hallingdal traditional music and dance on a regular basis. It will be fun to watch their development in the future.