Alta motettkor and Ensemble Noor: Oaidnu - syn at Den Norske Opera & Ballett

Musical traditions from northern Norway and the grandeur of the natural world characterise the programme when Alta motettkor (The Alta Motet Choir) visits the Oslo Opera House for the first time. Johan Sara’s work Havblikk (Ocean mirror) has been newly written for the choir, inspired by the shifting of the sea with its special sounds, and will receive its premiere at the concert.

The other main work of the evening, Rámádusat (Songs of Praise), was composed by Bjørn Andor Drage for the opening of Nordlyskatedralen (The Cathedral of Northern Lights) in Alta in 2013. The raw material for the four movements of the work is found in many locations and times: sami and Norwegian folk music from Finnmark, combined with Gregorian texts and hymns from the 12th century.

The composers themselves will participate in the performance of these works: Drage on the organ, Sara both playing instruments and singing.

The choir has had a close collaboration for a long time with the Alta-based chamber music group Ensemble Noor, which has previously played at the Oslo Opera House. The ensemble will be an important contributor to the two principal works at the concert, both of which were written with the ensemble in mind. The choir will also perform a cappella songs by composer Arne Dagsvik, known for his choral arrangements.

They have called the concert Oaidnu – Syn (In English: Sight). The principal meaning of the northern sami word “oaidnu” is “sight”, but it can also mean “point of view” or “understanding”. The word “oaidnu” can appeal also to the listener’s creativity: You have to use your own senses to see something, and to have a point of view about what you see.

Alta motettkor has a strong reputation in northern Norway. “Heavenly tones”, wrote the local newspaper after the traditional Christmas concert last year. The critic from Altaposten gave the concert six points of six possible, and pointed out that the concert offered “so many warm and wonderful voices that even a tone-deaf person must have enjoyed the hour-long concert. ‘Pure’ and ‘balanced’ are the key words...Alta should be very proud of this choir, which can master nearly everything.”