Sugar Plum Fairies
Encyclopedia
Sugar Plum Fairies is a folk
and pop
band from Fyresdal
, Vest-Telemark
, Norway
formed in 2000, who have released one studio album
. The band plays pop-music leaning heavily on the folk music
tradition of their native Telemark
and its immediate surroundings, using folk instruments like the Norwegian harding fiddle and accordion
alongside more "poppy" instruments like guitar
and piano
. Brass instruments like trumpet
and euphonium
are also a vital part of the band's soundscape
. These aspects also come into display concerning their vocal performance. The band perform their own material in their native dialect
. In addition, Norwegian artists like Odd Nordstoga
, Hellbillies
, a-ha
, Brazz Bros and deLillos
are cited as major influences by the band, as are The Beatles
and Pink Floyd
.
On June 2, 2009 it was announced via the band's official Facebook
fan page that they are on indefinite hiatus.
from a concert production entitled Fivrelddans & filosofi - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar composed and performed exclusively for the Olsokdagane i Fyresdal festival in 2004.
The record has received several good reviews and some airplay both in Norway and abroad, scoring three minor Norwegian radio hits with the songs Andre Dugurdskvildi, Fridtjof Nansen
and Strålefall.
The album contains music put to the poems of Haakon Lie
, himself originally from Fyresdal. Lie, in turn, was son of the renowned author and poet John Lie
. Haakon Lie himself was a well-known writer in Norway and was a member of the Norwegian Authors' Union
.
The title of the album means "Butterfly dance" in English.
Fivrelddans was released independently through the band's own label Spun Sugar Music on December 10, 2005.
The album was co-produced by Torbjørn Kittelsen and Jørgen Eide Kittelsen in Largostudio, Rjukan
, Norway in April and May 2005.
Guest appearances on the album are made by Sarah Corbisier (viola
) and Magne Berge (Hardanger fiddle).
The song "Storlivisa" and the poem "Hjuringvise" were a part of the original stage production, but did not get recorded by the band. "Fløytarvisa hans Aslak smed" was not a part of the original stage production.
and Tore Reppe as invited guests of Norsk Munnspillforum (The Norwegian Harmonica Association) at a concert in Moland kyrkje in Fyresdal.
In 2008 the band was picked out to be a part of the October Party Records compilation album "Norwegian Wood Music For China vol.5"
Sugar Plum Fairies with Sigmund Groven
in 2007.
's album "Unfinished Bizniz - a collection of dreams and grey stones". In addition, he lends his voice to "Fat Fucks' Theme", part of the incidental music for Paul Bernard and The Fat Fucks' DVD "Live at Lost Weekend".
Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås is a member of the Oslofjord Brass ensemble and appears on their album "OfBit".
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band from Fyresdal
Fyresdal
Fyresdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. The municipality of Moland was established on 1 January 1838 . In 1879, the name was changed to...
, Vest-Telemark
Vest-Telemark
The Vest-Telemark traditional district of Norway comprises the upper and western areas of the county of Telemark. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid and Seljord....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
formed in 2000, who have released one studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
. The band plays pop-music leaning heavily on the folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
tradition of their native Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
and its immediate surroundings, using folk instruments like the Norwegian harding fiddle and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
alongside more "poppy" instruments like guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Brass instruments like trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
are also a vital part of the band's soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
. These aspects also come into display concerning their vocal performance. The band perform their own material in their native dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
. In addition, Norwegian artists like Odd Nordstoga
Odd Nordstoga
Odd Nordstoga is a musician, actor and editor from Vinje in Telemark, Norway. In 2004, he went from relative obscurity to becoming the country's biggest selling recording artist, with the phenomenal success of his first solo album proper, "Luring"...
, Hellbillies
Hellbillies
The Hellbillies are a Norwegian country rock group formed in 1990. As of 2010, they have released twelve albums—including a compilation and two live albums—as well as one live concert DVD...
, a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
, Brazz Bros and deLillos
DeLillos
deLillos is a Norwegian rock band formed in Oslo in 1984. They are regarded as one the "Four Greats" in modern Norwegian pop music, i.e. one of the four 1980s groups that founded a new tradition for rock music with lyrics in Norwegian...
are cited as major influences by the band, as are The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
.
On June 2, 2009 it was announced via the band's official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
fan page that they are on indefinite hiatus.
Members
- Øyvind Berge - vocals, guitars, bass
- Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås - guitars, accordion, trumpet, piano
- Birgith Jørgensdottir Reinskås - euphonium, synthesizer
- Torbjørn Strånd - drums, percussion, bass until 2005
- Tor Christian Tovslid - drums
- Gro Elisabeth Valebjørg Galambos was a part of the original line-up, but quit prior to the recording of their debut album.
- Sarah Corbisier has been a recurring member of the band's concert line-up since 2006.
Fivrelddans - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar
Sugar Plum Fairies' first album is entitled "Fivrelddans" and is a spin-offSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
from a concert production entitled Fivrelddans & filosofi - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar composed and performed exclusively for the Olsokdagane i Fyresdal festival in 2004.
The record has received several good reviews and some airplay both in Norway and abroad, scoring three minor Norwegian radio hits with the songs Andre Dugurdskvildi, Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
and Strålefall.
The album contains music put to the poems of Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie was a Norwegian politician who served as party secretary for the Norwegian Labour Party from 1945 to 1969. Coming from humble origins, he became involved in the labour movement at an early age, and quickly rose in the party system...
, himself originally from Fyresdal. Lie, in turn, was son of the renowned author and poet John Lie
John Lie
John Lie is Class of 1959 Professor of sociology and Dean of International and Area Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. His principal academic interests are social theory, political economy, social identity, and East Asia....
. Haakon Lie himself was a well-known writer in Norway and was a member of the Norwegian Authors' Union
Norwegian Authors' Union
The Norwegian Authors' Union is an association of Norwegian authors. It was established in 1893 to promote Norwegian literature and protect Norwegian authors' professional and economic interests. DnF also works in solidarity with persecuted writers internationally.As of 2004 the association had...
.
The title of the album means "Butterfly dance" in English.
Fivrelddans was released independently through the band's own label Spun Sugar Music on December 10, 2005.
Track listing
Fivrelddans contains 15 tracks. Unless otherwise stated, all words are written by Haakon Lie with music by Øyvind Berge.- Fivrelddans & filosofi (H.Lie / M.J. Reinskås)
- Tid er pengar
- Fyrste dugurdskvildi
- Jolekveld (H. Lie/Ø. Berge/M.J. Reinskås)
- Fridtjof NansenFridtjof NansenFridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
- Andre Dugurdskvildi
- Voggesong (H. Lie/M.J. Reinskås)
- Sylvet
- Tridje Dugurdskvildi
- Fløytarvisa hans Aslak smed
- Stogetaket
- Einsemd
- Fjorde Dugurdskvildi
- Strålefall
- Fivrelddans & filosofi - reprise (H. Lie/M.J. Reinskås)
The album was co-produced by Torbjørn Kittelsen and Jørgen Eide Kittelsen in Largostudio, Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
, Norway in April and May 2005.
Guest appearances on the album are made by Sarah Corbisier (viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
) and Magne Berge (Hardanger fiddle).
The song "Storlivisa" and the poem "Hjuringvise" were a part of the original stage production, but did not get recorded by the band. "Fløytarvisa hans Aslak smed" was not a part of the original stage production.
Other appearances
In 2006 Paul Bernard (Sleire), Norwegian rapper, hip-hop artist & producer, sampled the band's song "Jolekveld" and the collaboration "Depend" was released under the banner Paul Bernard feat. Sugar Plum Fairies. The release is an Internet exclusive and is part of Paul Bernard's album "Unfinished bizniz - a collection of dreams and grey stones" and a live version is also available on the Paul Bernard and The Fat Fucks dvd "Live at Lost Weekend". In 2007, the band appeared with Sigmund GrovenSigmund Groven
Sigmund Groven is a Norwegian classical harmonica player, today considered one of the world's leading classical harmonica players. He plays with a large number of the world's leading musicians and orchestras, and he has made about 22 recordings yet in his own name...
and Tore Reppe as invited guests of Norsk Munnspillforum (The Norwegian Harmonica Association) at a concert in Moland kyrkje in Fyresdal.
In 2008 the band was picked out to be a part of the October Party Records compilation album "Norwegian Wood Music For China vol.5"
Sugar Plum Fairies with Sigmund Groven
Sigmund Groven
Sigmund Groven is a Norwegian classical harmonica player, today considered one of the world's leading classical harmonica players. He plays with a large number of the world's leading musicians and orchestras, and he has made about 22 recordings yet in his own name...
in 2007.
Solo appearances by band members
Øyvind Berge contributes vocals and songwriting on the track "Ser Du Stjernene?" on Paul BernardPaul Bernard
Paul Bernard was born in London, England on 20 June 1929, and died there on 25 September 1997.He is remembered as a television director, though he was also a designer on television, most notably on productions of The Avengers....
's album "Unfinished Bizniz - a collection of dreams and grey stones". In addition, he lends his voice to "Fat Fucks' Theme", part of the incidental music for Paul Bernard and The Fat Fucks' DVD "Live at Lost Weekend".
Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås is a member of the Oslofjord Brass ensemble and appears on their album "OfBit".
Discography
- 2005 Fivrelddans - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar (Spun Sugar Records)
- 2006 Depend (Påls kjøkken) (Paul Bernard feat. Sugar Plum Fairies) (Internet only release)
- 2008 Norwegian Wood Music For China vol.5 (October Party Records) (Released exclusively in China)
External links
- Largostudio, recording studio at RjukanRjukanRjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
, TelemarkTelemarkis a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:... - Sugar Plum Fairies in Norwegian Bandindex