On International Space Day, Monday 8 April, Elias Akselsen releases a new album and can be seen on NRK in a concert recording with the Broadcasting Orchestra.
Photo: Maru Sanchez Lopez figcaption>
The songs that Elias Akselsen’s people sang around the campfire have been accompanied by an entire symphony orchestra. It is historic.
According to the record company Hello , which releases the album “I tatersymfoni”, this music has never before been arranged for and recorded with a classical orchestra. Specifically, the Broadcasting Orchestra.
– It is absolutely fantastic, a dream. But terrifying too. They are professional musicians, while I have no education – I could neither read nor write until I was an adult. To record a record with KORK behind me in the studio was an honour, says Elias Akselsen to NTB.
Didn’t get to sing
The album is released on Monday, which is the international one space day – devoted to one of Norway’s five national minorities. The same evening, NRK broadcasts the concert recording “Tatersanger with Elias Akselsen and KORK”.
The recording was done last November in Store Studio. Daughter Veronica Akselsen sings several of the songs, with musical contributions and arrangements by multi-instrumentalist Stian Carstensen, violinist Ola Kvernberg and Giani Lincan on cimbalom.
It gives a new perspective on the timeless melodies – which, according to Akselsen, were forbidden to sing in public not too long ago:
– We were not allowed to sing Tater songs. My father was refused to sing at a market in 1989. The mayor of the village came and said no to him singing Tater songs in public. I was there myself.
Doors opened
But the doors have opened, as Elias Akselsen claims Our Lord once sent him a prophecy about when he was struggling the worst to make ends meet.
– He said: “I will open doors of iron and copper, which are hidden in the darkness. The path I will lead you on is for honor and glory and you will become a light for everyone else,” says Akselsen in his distinctive and heartfelt voice.
Since then, awards have been given, most recently the Cultural Council’s honorary award last autumn. The tater boy from Finnskogen has sung “Jørgen hattermaker” for the royal couple, and – as a nominee for the Nordic Council’s music prize – walked down the red carpet past prime ministers.
– The last will be first, and the first will be last, says the Bible I read in. There are many great musicians from my people, but many hid for many years, afraid of prejudice, afraid of their career. Now they see that the doors are open, he says.
The breakthrough came
Elias Akselsen has a strong faith – the faith he says “was the lifeblood of his people” and which enabled them to survive – and a riveting storytelling talent.
When Our Lord is duly credited, Akselsen then brings out Stian Carstensen, who, according to Akselsen, knocked on his door just a couple of days after the prophecy.
The story is probably more extensive, but the result in the end was the record release “Hjemlandsklokker” – which came in 2002 and was Akselsen’s big breakthrough. Since then, Akselsen and Carstensen have continued to work together.
– Many doors have been opened because of talented musicians. Without Stian, Ola and NRK, tater music would not have been produced in this way. I am eternally grateful to them.
The audience provides energy
He calls his talent a gift, and says the meetings with the public are what give him energy and are a great joy.
– I am an old man of 77 years, but I feel like a 20-year-old. I have experienced that songs can heal people, give them a new lease of life. The tater songs are about life and death, lost love, pain, grief, persecution, poverty, wealth, and sometimes a happy ending.
He is clear about what he wants to be called, and which the record company and NRK have also taken the chance to use.
– We have been called Taters for 500-600 years, so why should I change that? I think it’s a word of honor. The tater word is as you do it yourself. All words can turn into shame and dishonor.
(©NTB)
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