Áhkunjárga

50th Anniversary of The Winter Festival (VU)

Teatersalen, Folkets Hus, Narvik 19:00 Tuesday 14^th March 2006

School’s principal: Sigfred Olsen

Head of Culture: Randi Melgaard

Mayor in Narvik: Olav Sigurd Alstad

Production:	Fiona Jane Ellingsen
Scenography	Siri Angel Flengsrud
Light Design	Tor Ditlefsen
Photo montage	Douglas Carr
Composer	Frode Fjellheim
Soloist	Sofia Jannok
Ensemble Oscar	Runnar Sollie, clarinet, Stig Molvær, horn, Nina Bergquist Rolland, violin, Gro Torvanger, cello, Cathrine Holst, piano

Frode Fjellheim’s short intense composition Áhkunjárga was Narvik Community’s gift to The Winter Festival Week (VU) on the occasion of their 50^th Anniversary in 2006. The title Áhkunjárga, is Sámi for Narvik and means «Tøtta sitt nes» or Maiden’s Promontory.

Already two years before the concert, in July 2004, the school commissioned the work for Ensemble Oscar from Frode Fjellheim, one of Norway’s talented musicians and yoiker.

Fjellheim studied classical piano at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim, Norway from 1980-1984, and has since worked as a freelance musician and composer in Trondheim working with music of every style and stripe such as jazz, rock, folk music, church music as well as some classical and contemporary compositions. He has also worked as a musician, composer, and arranger with Trøndelag Teater. Fjellheim has written several commissioned works in his career such Aejlies Gaaltije – (The Sacred Source) for Festspillene i Nord-Norge 2000. Frode has also composed film scores for NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation). He was raised in Gausdal and Karasjok and is of South Sámi origin.[i]

Like all other major projects in the school, the administration needed to start early to be able to finance it. This resulted in Áhkunjárga receiving 60.700 NOK from the Norwegian Composers Fund, 100,000 NOK in the 2006 council budget, a grant from The Fund for Performing Artists and from The Sámi Parliament of Norway.

Áhkunjárga was produced in cooperation with VU and only thirty-eight minutes long. The musical backdrop moved through the four seasons and portrayed the four mountain peaks surrounding Narvik. The work linked modern Narvik to the original Sámi inhabitants. The first two movements were “In the Beginning was the Mountain” with Tottatoppen in golden brown hues. “The Mountain in Winter”, was next showing Mt Fagernes portrayed a wintery blue. The next movement was “Áhkunjárga” a rhythmic section where the soloist Sofia Jannok, a Sámi artist, singer, and songwriter from Gällivare, Sweden, sung a chanting song of the Sámi people, over the theme Áhkunjárga. Then came Beisfjordtøtta, bathed in the green of spring, behind the ensemble. This was followed by “The Power” with Rombakstøtta in the radiant warm colours of summer and the final movement, “Mountain Hymn”, showed The Seeping Queen (Skjomtinden) in a golden autumn.

Each movement had a surrealistic lighting underlining the theme and the season. Images taken by a professional photographer of the four peaks, were projected onto the backdrop behind the musicians and the white brush installation and gauze panels created a mystical atmosphere reminiscent of Norway’s northern plateau or “vidda”. The Sámi language and song (yoik) were combined with recordings from modern Narvik throughout all composition. Each movement in Áhkunjárga commenced with an electronic component which then glided over to the acoustic instrumental/vocal section.

Áhkunjárga’s ethereal experience can be attributed to scenographer Siri Angell Flengsrud and lighting designer Tor Ditlefsen’s, stunning designs. Their artistic contribution gave it that little bit extra making it a very memorable experience and a worthy gift to VU.

The concert was beautifully performed by Ensemble Oscar with Nina Bergquist Rolland, violin, Gro Torvanger, cello, Cathrine Holst, piano, Runar Sollie, clarinet, and Stig Molvær, french horn. Narvik could not have given VU a better birthday present.[ii]

Áhkunjárga was later invited to perform at the Riddu Riđđu-festival however Sofia Jannok was unable to perform and the lighting and scenography was unsuitable for an outdoor stage.

Áhkunjárga was performed in June 2013 on the occasion of the Arts Council Norway’s national conference in Narvik. With Anna Kråik – joik, a Sami composer and artist Herborg Rundberg – piano, Willem Mathlener – violin, Gro Torvanger – cello and Kirsti Jacobsen – clarinet. Stein Villanger from Trondheim Symphony Orchestra played the horn. Frode Fjellheim remixed the soundtrack for the occasion.