DE NI BØLGENE

For flute, guitar, percussion, double bass, and video
Commissioned by aksiom
13 min
2022

Video stills:
Full video with live performance sound by aksiom in 2021: 

Inspired by nine sisters in Norse Mythology personifying the ocean waves. Norse mythology is characterized by personifications of natural elements (several of them by female creatures), and having nine different wave personifications is a reflection of how important the ocean was at that time. For this work, I’ve found inspiration in the nine names that all have something powerful and almost apocalyptic about them, which corresponds to my thoughts about the loss of respect for nature and the current god-complex of the human race. The work consists of nine parts – exploring nine sound worlds – that are to be experienced as a whole.

The giant power couple Rán and Ægir both personify the sea, and together they have nine daughters who personify the waves. Each daughter’s name reflects poetic terms for waves: Uðr, Dufa, Dröfn, Kolga, Hrönn, Bylgja, Hefring, Himinglæfa and Bloðughadda.

This piece is part of my ongoing work with sound choreography, where visual material and/or movements are interpreted sonically. In «De ni bølgene» the performers have specific instructions of what and how to play, all connected to cues in the video projection visible to both the performers and audience.

Concept, video, and composition: Tine Surel Lange
Commissioned and performed by: Aksiom
Flute: Lynetta Taylor Hansen
Guitar: Ole Martin Huser-Olsen
Percussion: Anders Kregnes Hansen
Double bass: Christian Meaas Svendsen
Funded by: Arts Council Norway
Concert recording: Christian Obermayer
Concert recording funded by: NKF (Norsk Komponistforening)
Dancer in video: Ellinor Staurbakk
Premiere November 21st 2021, Kampen Kirke, Oslo, Norway




© 2022 Tine Surel Lange