Elisabeth Vatn

Elisabeth Vatn, originally a classically trained pianist, who also ”always” plays different organs, harmoniums, clarinettes – and BAGPIPES . Vatn began her bagpipe career during a stay in Macedonia in 1993. Later she would learn of the existence of a Nordic/Swedish variant of the instrument and Vatn is currently one of the instrument’s few practitioners – having put down a considerable effort into the work of preserving the Swedish bag-pipe tradition and finding a contemporary context for the distinct instrument’s rich timbre. As a performer, Vatn has been active across the genre spectrum, performing in classical settings, with improv ensembles, in pop/rock groups as well as a wide variety of traditional folk music outfits. Vatn has released critically acclaimed albums with such ensembles as Tigerlily, Chateu Neuf Spelemannslag and Harnihomba – as a classical performer she put out a duo piano recording of Messiaen’s ‘Visions de L’Amen’. Piper on the Roof is Elisabeth Vatn’s latest bag-pipe ensemble which album-debuted to critical acclaim 2009. Additional projects includes Stave Church Songs – Martyred Saints and Sister Bells (Heilo 2011), Lux Illuxit. and a string of solo live performances. Resently Elisabeth Vatn recorded a new album in the James Turrell installation Skyspace/Ganzfeld in Ekebergparken, fall 2014. Oktober 2014