NODE / Brian Cliff Olguin for Ultima
In her Ultima commission, Levitate, Sanskriti Shrestha attempts to connect two different sides of her life: Nepal, her country of origin, with its own urban and secular vibrations contrasting with strong spiritual, mystical and musical traditions; and Norway, where she now works as a percussionist and composer. Shrestha is a musical adventurer on the Norwegian music scene. Her unique setup expands the melodic possibilities of the tabla, which she combines with various other percussion instruments and her own vocals.
Shrestha has put together a large ensemble including Nepalese performers Dev Lama and Dheeraj Shrestha on traditional instruments such as the bansuri, sarangi and madal, improvisers from the Norwegian jazz scene Anja Lauvdal, Bendik Baksaas, Andreas Wildhagen, and folk musicians Erlend Viken and Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen. Wind instruments, voice, strings, electronics and percussion combine with atmospheric recordings from the cities, countryside and sound archives of Nepal.
Sanskriti Shrestha. Photo: Signe Fuglesteg Luksengard
Tablas, voice & composition
- Sanskriti Shrestha
Vocals
- Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen
Bansuri
- Dev Lama
Fiddle
- Erlend Viken
Piano, synth and harmonium
- Anja Lauvdal
Electronics
- Bendik Baksaas
Percussion/drums
- Andreas Wildhagen
Tabla, madal and Nepalese percussion
- Dheeraj Shrestha
In collaboration with
- MUNCH
Supported by
- Det norske komponistfond
