Benedicte Maurseth

GENRE-CROSSING AND BEAUTIFUL When Benedicte Maurseth released her album Hárr in 2022, the Hardanger fiddler was hailed as a masterpiece. The album was awarded the Nordic Music Prize, and was named one of the ten best folk music albums in the world by The Guardian. In 2025, the follow-up Mirra came, and this time it is the wild reindeer near Maurseth's home area at Hardangervidda that has provided inspiration for the music. "Mirra" is an older extinct dialect word from Hardanger that describes when reindeer run together in a circle, both to keep warm, but also to keep predators away. The work follows parts of the behavior and annual cycle of wild reindeer, where their distinct sounds are also an important part of the compositions. All written based on the suggestive repetitions of folk music, inspired by minimalism, krautrock, and free improvised music. Mirra has received very good reviews nationally and internationally since its launch. Morgenbladet wrote "Mighty is perhaps not a big enough word for Benedicte Maurseth's Mirra", and Dag og Tid described the album as a "minimalist masterpiece". Mirra, like Hárr, was also named one of the world's ten best folk music albums for 2025, in The Guardian. Other well-known magazines such as Mojo, Jazzwise, The Wire, etc. also had the album on their top ten lists, and it was nominated for Spellemann in both the Open Class and the Composer of the Year awards. Call Benedicte Maurseth's music whatever you want - we call it unique, soulful and beautiful. And you can hear it live in the jazz club! Benedicte Maurseth - Hardanger fiddle Morten Qvenild - piano / synth / electronics Mats Eilertsen - bass Håkon Mørch Stene - melodic percussion / electronics