Sondre Bratland

Sondre Bratland (born 11 September 1938) is a Norwegian folk singer, song teacher and Government scholar. He has performed traditional songs from Setesdal and Telemark, collected religious folk tunes and composed music to songs by poets as Olav H. Hauge and Tarjei Vesaas. His album Pilegrimens Sangbog from 1982 earned him Spellemannprisen.

Life and career

Born in Vinje Municipality, where his father was a shopkeeper and his mother ran a hostel, Sondre Bratland grew up in an area and in a family with strong folk song traditions, especially among women. The song style is referred to as kveding. His mother sang at home and his aunt Brita Bratland was a folk singer who recorded songs for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. While influenced by the local song traditions,

His interest in folk singing was revoked through listening to the NRK radio program Folkemusikkhalvtimen (English: Folk music half-hour), where he became particularly fascinated by the folk singer Ragnar Vigdal.

He taught Arve Moen Bergset folk music singing for eight years.

In 1997, he was appointed Government scholar by the Parliament of Norway; allowing him to focusing full-time on music.

Bratland has held concerts in more than 600 churches in Norway, but also performs in other venues and abroad.

Bratland was decorated Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 2019.

Albums

Sondre Bratland released his first album Pilegrimenens Sangbog (The Pilgrims' songbook) in 1982. It was recorded in Gjerpen church, Skien, where several of his later albums also are recorded. Iver Kleive played the organ The recording was characterised by improvisations and the album has been praised for introducing a new way to perform hymns. It was considered for inclusion in Norsk salmebok 2013, a Church of Norway hymn book, but after a debate the Church council decided against inclusion on the grounds that the song lacked an explicit religious dimension.

In 1992 he released the album Rosa frå Betlehem (English: The Rose of Bethlehem). The album was recorded in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Musicians Iver Kleive, Knut Reiersrud, Paolo Vinaccia and Suheil Khoury participated in the recording along with a Palestinian choir. The album was met with general praise and has been described by reviewers as a masterpiece, a classic and the most beautiful Christmas album ever recorded in Norway. It has sold more than 60,000 copies.

On the 2008 album Det Er Den Draumen (English: It´s That Dream), Bratland has set melodies to poems by Olav H. Hauge. The album was recorded in Kampen church.

Kirkelig Kulturverksted has been record company for all his solo albums.

Awards and recognition 1982 fekk han Spellemannsprisen for "Pilegrimens Sangbog" 1986 Vinje municipality Culture Award 1997 Appointed Government scholar by the Parliament of Norway. 2003 Telemark county Culture Award

Discography 1982: Pilegrimens Sangbog (Spellemann award) 1983: Den blå gleda (Nominated to the Spellemann award) 1988: Inn i draumen 1990: Mysteriet 1992: Kjeldevatn (Nominated to the Spellemann award) 1992: Rosa frå Betlehem 1994: Gjest i verda 1996: Atterklang (Nominated to the Spellemann award) 1999: Kvilestein 2002: Draumkvedet 2005: Syng meg heim 2006: Dialogue 2008: Det er den draumen 2011: Jol i mi song

In addition, Bratland has participated at other albums.