Mia Guldhammer & Morten Alfred Høirup

Nyt udspil på den danske folkemusikscene

Havde jeg blot vinger/If only I had wings GO0119

Mia Guldhammer (Vokal, shruti box, percussion) & Morten Alfred Høirup (Vokal, guitar) er en helt ny duo på den danske folkemusikscene. Begge er velkendte og respekterede for deres arbejde i bands som Virelai, Mallebrok, Haugaard & Høirup og Himmerland, bands med hvem de igennem årene har turneret over store dele af verden.

Nu er de to gået sammen om noget helt nyt på den internationale folke- og verdensmusikscene, en blanding af gamle danske sange og ballader, tilsat traditionel dansk musik, krydret med egne melodier, og arrangeret for sang, guitar og perkussion.

Mia Guldhammer (Vocals, Shruti box, Percussion) & Morten Alfred Høirup (Vocals, Guitars) is a brand new vocal duo from Denmark. They are both wellknown and highly respected for their work in bands like Virelai, Mallebrok, Haugaard & Høirup and Himmerland, bands with whom they have been touring intensely all over the World for many years.

Now the two musicians have joined forces, introducing something new on the international folk and world music scene, focussing on the old Danish songs and ballads, mixed with their own newly-composed music – all arranged for two vocals, guitars and percussion.

1. En sang jeg fremfører/Bette mand i knibe (‘A song I Perform’/’Little man in a Fix’) Trad. Danish 2:52

2. Huset ved havet (‘The House by the Sea)’ Composer: Morten Alfred Høirup 2:18

3. Rundt på gulvet/Dansen (‘Around on the Floor’/’The Dance’) Trad. Danish/M. Guldhammer & M. A. Høirup 4:08

4. Sig mig hvor mange har elsket dig (‘Tell me how many has Loved You’) Trad. Danish 3:30

5. Sorgen/Håbets dans (‘The Grief’/’Dance of Hope)’  Trad. Danish/M.A. Høirup 2:53

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Performed by Mia Guldhammer (Vocals, shruti box) & Morten Alfred Høirup (Vocals, guitars)

All songs arranged and performed ‘live’ in the studio by Mia Guldhammer & Morten Alfred Høirup

Recorded by Tobias Elof in Malorka Studio, Dec 2018

Mixed and mastered by Louise Nipper at Soundscape Studio, Dec 2018

More info about the duo at:

– Mia Guldhammer: www.miaguldhammer.dk

– Morten Alfred Høirup: www.mortenalfred.com

– Booking: mortenalfred@gmail.com

Released only digital – available by February 1.st at digital services as Spotify, iTunes, amo

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About the songs:

1. En sang jeg fremfører/Bette mand i knibe

An old traditional Danish love song about being left by your lover, put together with an old dance tune called ‘Little man in trouble’. ‘Goodbye my sweet girl, I wish you and your boyfriend all the best. You are now taking a new lover, but I think that you might very well regret that, when you think about what you promised to me earlier on’

2. Huset ved havet

Morten Alfred originally composed this tune for a Danish TV documentary. ‘The House by the Sea’ is not a real ‘house’, it is a mental house where you can seek refuge, when you need to be alone to meditate or reflect about your life and your situation.

3. Rundt på gulvet/Dansen

Rundt på gulvet (‘Around the floor’) is an old traditional song from the Danish island of Fanø, situated in the south western part of the country, not far from the German border. The song is about a young girl who has two lovers, and it starts like this: ‘Oh if only I had wings, and was a little bird, then I would fly to a strange country, where no males are living’. The first of her two lovers is named ‘Joy’, the second is called ‘Dancing’, and she often walks around the dance floor with both, using the very light steps of the youth. The song is being followed by ‘Dansen’ (The dance), a little dance tune composed by Mia & Morten illustrating this powerfull young girl dancing.

4. Sig mig hvor mange

Sig mig hvor mange (‘Tell me how many’) is a song from the Danish Travelers ‘The Danish Travelers’ were gypsies, cirkus artists, musicians and other people traveling the country especially during spring, summer and autumn, and living in camps in the cities during winter time. The song was first recorded around 1959, featuring the great musician Antonius Sambleben singing and playing his guitar. In the song a man is asking his girlfriend how many that has kissed her as tender as he has – but he begs her not to answer his question, because he really doesn’t want to know. He also asks how many has loved her the way he does, and continues: ‘Please tell me how many has hurt you as deep as I have now? How many, I ask you, even though I really don’t want to hear your answer…’

5. Sorgen/Håbets dans

Old Danish song with a lot of verses. We have chosen two, here is a quick translation:

I got a grief so deep

In my young days

It will never leave me

As long as I live.

It is the deepest grief

That any person can feel

It is to love somebody

That you can never get

Now I will wish for you

So many good days

As the linden tree carries foliage

And the beech tree carries leafs

As the fish in the sea

As the sand on the beach

As the stars beyond number

In the heavenly hall of joy

This song continues into Morten’s tune Håbets dans, a tune that seeks to inspire hope.

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Dates:

22. – 23. February 2019: Windros Winterfolk Festival (D)

8. – 11. August 2019: Musik over Præstø Fjord (DK)

4. October 2019: Folk Club Mors (DK)