Jørn Simen Øverli: Folk songs from Oslo

Jørn Simen Øverli has kicked around the streets of the Norwegian capital and its immediate surroundings and found a large number of what we can call Oslo folk songs. All the songs originate and refer to Oslo and the greater Oslo area. Joining him are musicians Stian Carstensen (accordion, banjo, flute and pedal steel), Frode Haltli (accordion) and Øyonn Groven Myren (vocals). This ensemble, with Jørn Simen singing and playing acoustic guitar, has come together in Sørkedalen church to perform 20 songs from Nordmarka, the popular area of forest and fields in the Oslo area.

If we speak of the centre of Oslo, the locals would think of the many familiar, famous and infamous spots, like the Royal Castle, the main street Karl Johan, or “plata”, where some of the less fortunate hang out. But, truth be told, if you draw lines on the city map to find the geographical centre of the greater Oslo area, you’ll find that the actual centre is not downtown, but rather in the forest between some of the urban sprawl. Most inhabitants here are squirrels, wood mice, birds and a few of the homeless. The “centre” of Oslo is thus actually in the forests and fields of Nordmarka which has been a centre for Norwegian industry, recreational activities and skiing.

When we hear the term "folk music" we tend to envision the landscapes where old songs and folk tunes came into being, so what quickly comes to mind is a distant valley in Telemark or a quaint rural village in Valdres. Folk songs from Oslo do not so easily come to mind, even though they exist, of course. Just take a trip to the outlying areas of Oslo, for example Sognsvann lake or Sørkedal valley, where you will find old farms and remnants of crofts where old and new folk songs came into being, songs that recall events, moods, persons and dramas large and small in the distant and near past.

The traditional definition of folk songs is that they are melodies and lyrics with no known originator, but which have been passed down from one generation to the next. But of course all folk songs were created by someone, some time. Perhaps they have become "anonymous" because the composer and lyricist have been forgotten. Perhaps the songs have also changed over the generations, but these changes were also made by people with names and faces.

It is enlightening to reflect on the nuggets of songs Jørn Simen has found and called folk music from Oslo, and even if some of the songwriters have familiar names, they still belong to this category. These songs belong in an unbroken tradition that lives on from generation to generation, and along with interesting material narrating events and people farther back in time, Jørn Simen has also included some examples from the present showing that this tradition is still very much alive.

Among the songs we find "Sørkedalsjenta" (The girl from Sørkedalen) and "Månevise" (Moon song) by Alf Prøysen, "Tømmerhoggervise" (Logger's song) by Hans Aleksander Hansen, "Marsjkonkurransen" (The marching competition) by Finn Bø and a number of songs by unknown composers and authors.

Martin Abrahamsen has recorded the album, which has been produced by Erik Hillestad.

Track list:

1. Nordmarksvalsen                                                        2:22

2. Baron Harald Wedel-Jarlsberg                                  1:57

3. Rallare Villman                                                            3:55

4. Skituren                                                                       2:25

5. En aften silde                                                              1:50

6. Valborgvisa                                                                 5:30

7. Det lysnet i skogen                                                     2:38

8. Høgåsjenta/ Gråsetervisa                                          2:09

9. Nordmarksgaloppen                                                  1:02

10. En fattig mann som var i nød                                  3:45

11. Tømmerhøggervisa tel Kælvedør'n                         2:22

12. Hilsen fra Katnosdammen                                       2:48

13. Lysedamvisa                                                             2:22

14. Sørkedalsjenta                                                         3:45

15. Vårvise                                                                      1:50

16. Viselenke med Lindemansanger                            5:33

17. Nordsætertjernet                                                     2:22

18. Marsjkonkurransen                                                  3:00

19. Akevitt i Akerselva                                                   4:20

20. Månevise                                                                 2:58