Karlberg, Marit

In the course of the past decade, Marit Mattisgard has gained a reputation as having one of the most distinctive voices in Norway. She has a well-developed sense of style, and is creative and innovative. Ingvar Hegge and Rolf Karlberg have been influential teachers and sources of inspiration for her. Her repertoire consists of all types of songs, and she has spent a great deal of time searching for unfamiliar material in old songbooks and archives. She accompanies herself on the langeleik (Norwegian zither), and has developed her own individual technique for playing it. Mattisgard was a member of the vocal group Dvergmål (1995-2005) and is half of the duo Mattisgard/Røine, formed in 2003. In 2005 The Magic Flute – a Folk Opera, directed by Leif Stinnerbom,premiered at the Norwegian National Opera. Mattisgard played the role of one of the Queen’s attendants. It was performed on around 40 stages in Norway and Sweden, and was the most ambitious presentation in the history of the Norwegian Concert Institute. Mattisgard has been engaged as an official regional musician in Valdres, and is a trained librarian. She is qualified to compete in the most demanding category, A, in the National Contest for Traditional Music, although she seldom participates in music competitions. In 2006 she received a government grant for folk music artists.

Discography

1996: Visor og kvæde frå Blåberglandet, with Dvergmål (Grappa)
2003: Tre ord te de, solo recording (Ta:lik)
2004: Song i himmelsalar, with Dvergmål (Grappa)
2006: Sudan Dudan, with Anders Røine (Ta:lik)
2006: Underlege makter, with Henning Andersen (Ta:lik)

Appeared on

1992: Ulrik (Grappa)
1995: Hei så dansa jenta mi (Valdres Folkemusikklag)
1997: Masterpieces from Norway (Grappa)
2001: Lått og leven (Valdres Folkemusikklag)
2001: Norsk folkemusikk og folkedans (Grappa)
2006: Gjenklang (Grappa)
2006: Juledrøm (MFC)
2007: Norvege – Musiques Traditionelles

Awards

1996: Nominated for a Spellemannsprisen (Norwegian Grammy) for Visor og kvæde frå Blåberglandet (Grappa)
1997: Sagaprisen (award for promising young folk music artists)
2006: Nominated for two Norwegian Folk Music Awards for Sudan Dudan
2006: Haldor Røyne Honorary Award
2006: Nominated for a Spellemannsprisen for Juledrøm