<\/p>\n
Sigmund Groven\u00b4s Favorite Tunes<\/p>\n
On the album Over the Rainbow, Sigmund Groven presents a number of well known songs which are all popular in his own concert repertoire. This includes favorites such as "Send in the Clowns", "Londonderry Air" and "The Entertainer". In addition, we find a large number of other treasures that have not been available on Groven\u00b4s previous releases. Especially popular is his interpretation of the title track, "Over the Rainbow", where he lets the warm sounds of the harmonica convey the theme of this legendary song. Besides Groven\u00b4s variations of familiar and beloved melodies, the album also presents several of Groven’s own compositions, which themselves have become classics. Over the Rainbow is a wonderful collection of some of the worlds most beautiful melodies and Sigmund Groven\u00b4s interpretations of them vary from the wistful and nostalgic to the colorful and fresh.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sigmund Groven presents his latest album, Over the Rainbow: A collection of his most requested songs.<\/p>\n
The repertoire we have chosen is almost like a list of \u201dmost requested songs\u201d, so here, at long last, are some of the pieces which we have played over the years in our concerts but had not recorded previously. The title song of the album hardly needs any introduction. During the Millennium year this was voted in America the finest song of the 20th century \u2013 and deservedly so. Recalling the magic of Judy Garland I always find it an extremely emotional piece to play. A more recent song from a show which quickly gained status as a \u201dstandard\u201d is Stephen Sondheim\u2019s \u201dSend in the Clowns\u201d. The harmonica has a haunting, plaintive quality which I think suits the wistful mood of \u201dLondonderry Air\u201d (also known as \u201dDanny Boy\u201d or \u201dIrish Tune from County Derry\u201d). The \u201dIrish Medley\u201d diplays some of the other typical aspects of the traditional music from the \u201dEmerald Isle\u201d: the humour, the rhythm, the \u201dlilt\u201d. James Moody who did the arrangement, was born in Belfast, and made a name as piano accompanist and musical associate of the legendary harmonica virtuoso Tommy Reilly. I have always had a liking for folk music, and often use this showy arrangement of the traditional Jewish melody \u201dHava Nagila\u201d to finish my concerts.<\/p>\n
We have also included some short classical \u201dlollipops\u201d: the charming \u201dGavotte\u201d from the opera \u201dMignon\u201d by French composer Ambroise Thomas, Saint-Sa\u00ebns serene musical description of \u201dThe Swan\u201d, Bach-Gounod\u2019s well-loved \u201dAve Maria\u201d, and the \u201dSiciliano\u201d from Bach\u2019s Second Flute Sonata. A \u201dclassic\u201d of a rather different nature is Scott Joplin\u2019s tongue-in-cheek \u201dThe Entertainer\u201d, made famous in the Paul Newman-Robert Redford movie \u201dThe Sting\u201d. The remainder of the music on this album are original pieces specially composed for the harmonica. \u201dRibbon of Sand\u201d which the outstanding English multi-instrumentalist and composer John Surman wrote for me some years ago has an idyllic English pastoral atmosphere. \u201dHomeward Bound\u201d is a piece I wrote after having been away on tour for weeks and was anxious to get home. This has been arranged arranged for harmonica with every conceivable combination including brass band, symphony orchestra, disco rhythm, and church organ (!) but here is the original version which I have been using in my concerts with Iver Kleive for over 20 years. The late Tommy Reilly who I was very fortunate to have as my mentor since the age of 14, was not only a brilliant harmonica soloist and one of the true pioneers of the instrument, but also a fine composer. His pieces for harmonica included hair-raising virtuoso numbers as well as such gorgeous melodies as \u201dGolden Girl\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some years ago the Norsemen\u2019s Federation (an organization promoting the links between Norway and North America) commissioned from me a work commemorating the voyages of the brave Viking sailors and explorers who crossed the rough seas of the North Atlantic from Iceland and Greenland in their longboats. These daring Norse seafarers actually arrived at the Eastern shores of North America around the year 1000 AD \u2013 almost 500 years prior to Columbus, and named it \u201dVinland\u201d (literally \u201dLand of Wine\u201d or possible \u201dLand of Meadows\u201d \u2013 experts disagree on this). I found this an inspiring commission which triggered my imagination \u2013 hence the descriptive titles: \u201dAcross the Ocean\u201d, \u201dForeign Shores\u201d and \u201dHeritage\u201d. I have included a couple of quotations from very old Icelandic traditional themes, also a short humourous reference to Bernstein\u2019s \u201dAmerica\u201d (from \u201dWest Side Story\u201d) in the last movement. It was a pleasure working with Norway\u2019s gifted keyboard player, arranger and composer Helge Iberg on the recording of the \u201dVinland Suite\u201d. \u201dSong of the Harmonica\u201d (Norwegian title \u201dS\u00e5 spiller vi harmonica\u201d) which I wrote with Erik Bye, Norway\u2019s most beloved radio and TV personality, singer, poet and author, has become almost like a signature tune for me. I thought this version in which Ivar Anton Waagaard and I are joined by another old friend and musical associate, Kjetil Bjerkestrand, one of Norway\u2019s most sought-after arrangers\/composers, would be a good way to round off my new album of \u201dmost requested songs\u201d.<\/p>\n
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