Episode 4: Maja S. K. Ratkje - Contemporary sound from the North

In the new episode of “the Nordics Unveiled”, Eldbjørg Hemsing is joint by one of the Nordic's most exciting composers of the younger generation, the bold and charismatic Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje. Throughout the episode, they explore the Nordic sound, contemporary music impulses and Maja's playfulness with improvisation in sound making.

Show Notes

The bold and charismatic Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje is most definitely on the forefront, when it comes to the musical avant-garde, known for stark contrasts and a nuanced balances. She is celebrated and awarded with prizes both in Scandinavia and abroad, including the Edvard Prize and prestigious UNESCO Rostrum Award. 

"The Nordic expression in music can be clear, often very strong and intimate. It's probably not the right to say it in such way, but it is 'very often to the point'. Even in making complex contemporary music, there is still a clear music expression. Arne Nordheim, probably the most famous Norwegian composer after Edvard Grieg, is the first name that comes to my mind, when people talk about Nordic music. And it is still full of warmth, directness and in some way comfort."
Maja S. K. Ratkje, The Nordics Unveiled

"We need to re-define what the Nordic identity is, as the world around is changing and we are becoming a bigger part of it. We need artistic reflections on what the rest of the world does to us and not only being nostalgic. We need the good art that lifts up the dark spaces and criticizes things that we too often take for granted. We need art that is beautiful in new ways and does not play only on clichés."
Maja S. K. Ratkje, The Nordics Unveiled


More information about Maja S. K. Ratkje and her music on the following link.

What is The Nordics Unveiled?

What is typically Nordic? What characterizes our history, development and who we are today?
Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing has grown up in a village of Aurdal, in the valley of Valdres where centuries old folk music tradition had influenced and inspired composers such as Grieg, Ole Bull and Halvorsen. The so called ‘Nordic sound’ is strongly inspired by nature, moods and changes. Everything from the northern lights, to deep mountains and valleys, to water. The lyrical, melancholic and often cautious optimists are a key words to explain what can often be characterized as Nordic. The clean, simple and often pictorial. At the same time, it is a courage and a force to be reckoned with, as can be drawn from Nordic fairy tales, often with a warm humor. Many of these features also appear in other artistic disciplines. How has history shaped us and what can we learn from who we are today?

Embark on the journey to the North and join Eldbjørg Hemsing in "The Nordics Unveiled", exploring the themes of Nordic mythology, folk music, Sami tradition, discovery of forgotten Nordic works in music, philosophy, architecture and nature.