- Great nature. I did not expect the actual danger of the glacier, I came to the trip to learn about Norwegian nature and people.

How do you see the different strategies from the artists involved?

- It was a new thing to be part of a group and do recordings together. I was always sure that each person would use the recordings in a different way, so I was not afraid of it becoming a "battle" for sound material. There were some funny moments when we were out together, trying to sit still while the others were recording...
After listening to each others’ recording on the second night, in our cabin, I felt absolutely relaxed with the group aspect.

What is your understanding of The Sound of Norweigan Spring?

 

- Let's start with the specificity soundwise. The snow-covered landscape, where the snow modifies every sound. Because of its surface character, the sound gets broken up and reflected – so everything sounds muffled. In the winter you also have less bird sounds, different weather sounds and so on. In the spring, when the snow opens up, not only are there many more sounds to be heard, like birds and leaves, but the muffling becomes less and less, because the sounds bounces off the rocks in a very different way. So the sound change is huge. It is a large contrast to the winter soundscape.

- On a more general level, it has to do with change and metabolism. I have heard that there are two times a year when the metabolism rate is much higher in human beings: that’s spring and autumn. So spring also brings change to our bodies, and we adapt to the new conditions, the sun, the new weather, the temperature.

So where do the stones come in?

- The stones are uncovered as the snow is melting. I wouldn't say that they come alive, but if you walked on the mountain during the winter, you would, of course, walk on snow. When you walk the same place after the snow has melted, you would hear the sounds of stones crackling and moving under your feet. During the spring, the change in temperature between night and day will freeze the water in stone breaches, cracking the stones open. This also produces stone avalanches. So the stones falling and the sound of the stones are actually part of "sleppet".

 

- My rock piece is purely mechanical. I have recorded sound during the trip, but it will be more an inspiration and maybe it will end up in another piece.

You also did recordings in the sand pit at Sandane?

- It was really amazing. Because it was newly excavated, the rocks were constantly falling. The terrain which was some fifteen meters high, was destabilized pretty much, the same that happens to the water when it melts during the spring. So everything fell into place, the snow, the rocks, the mountains, the cultural landscape.

How do you perceive the Grieg connection in your work?

 

- Every composer listens attentively to sound. He would use it to create his sound, abstract music, but we are both listening to nature and finding inspiration in it.

Sleppet/The Sound of Norwegian Spring is the main artistic project of  Grieg 07. The exhibition has been shown in Bergen in September, and it opened in Oslo Saturday 29. September in Møllergata 13.