Reading Sølvi Ytterstad´s texts gave Marthe Valle the inspiration to write music in a new way. At this festival concert in the art gallery Marthe introduces ten texts by Ytterstad which examine fundamental questions about life itself.
- Something happens when you write music to someone else´s words, and Sølvi´s texts inspired me to write music which is tailor made for her writing. Hopefully the audience will discover her words anew, in a new context and with fresh colours, states Marthe Valle.
When Sølvi´s ”Our Father – toward´s the year 2000” popped up, it reminded me closely of my own music. She has written so many powerful texts, and the themes in the texts I have picked up focus upon faith/doubt, roots, belonging, and not least social engagement. Both Sølvi and I have a shared sense of the importance of human rights, continues Valle.
The text of `Our Father – towards the year 2000:
Song writer and artist Marthe Valle is originally from Harstad, but now resides in Bergen. She is admired for her honest and intimate expression, and has explored many different genres since she set out in 2003; everything from folksong to pop, and americana. Valle has a number of CD-releases behind her, and has sung both in english and norwegian. The ”Band” was placed on NRK P1´s A-list last autumn.
She has collaborated with organisations such as Norsk Folkehjelp and Kirkens Bymisjon, and this spring will also qualify as a nurse.
She comes to the Arts Festival of North Norway with the performance ”I Nordhellinga”. In addition as project leader for UngRetro which brings together 13 youths from Harstad´s music mileau, who will perform their own songs with lyrics by Norwegian authors Arvid Hanssen, Helge Stangnes and Sølvi Ytterstad.
Sølvi Ytterstad is an author and poet who comes originally from Vestbygd in Lødingen, but now resides in Harstad.
Sølvi has published a number of books and poetry collections, and switches between use of northern Norwegian dialect and standard Norwegian in her writings.
She gave her literary debut 25 years ago and has published six books and numerous writings in fiction.
- The very first poem was broadcasted on NRK radio in 1991. Since then I have enjoyed many possibilities to bring my work to a broad public, relates Ytterstad.
Sølvi´s writings are used in hospitals and in church surroundings, as well as in boathouses and community buildings. Feedback from those who are less fortunate than ourselves is her most cherished reward.