‘The Swamp’ is a get-to-know-you party where furniture is broken, wine glasses are smashed and walls are defaced with graffiti, but the living room remains more beautiful than the night before. The album is the first meeting between vocalist Maja S. K. Ratkje, guitarist Torstein Slåen and electronics artist Sigurd Ytre-Arne. With a fair dose […]
EP with original music, composed and performed by Maja S. K. Ratkje and her two daughters Marte and Frida Haltli. The music is created for Matti Aikio’s video work with the same title. LINK TO BANDCAMP RELEASE ONLY Aikio’s work Peurakaira is a poetic and meditative portrait of – and a tribute to – Peurakaira,
We are happy to present the debut album of the duo Stian Westerhus and Maja S. K. Ratkje, two Norwegian composers and performers known to the international scene through numerous works and albums in various constellations over decades. Released 15 March 2024 Crispin Glover Records. To many of their followers’ big surprise, Stian Westerhus and
All Losses Are Restored Read More »
Motvind Records continues to collaborate with musician and composer Signe Emmeluth in an attempt to present art music that emphasizes deep listening, reflection and expressive emotions. Vossajazz is a really cool jazz festival, it has a rich program history and are still holding the line. They’ve commissioned many works from composing jazz musicians, and one
Poesi på bristepunktet (Poetry at the Breaking Point) is a series of collaborations between author Aasne Linnestå and composer and performer Maja S. K. Ratkje with fellow musicians. The author sits onstage writing poetry in real time, projected on a large screen visible to the audience. The musicians accompany, respond to and interpret the words.
Poesi på bristepunktet Read More »
Øra Fonogram announces the worldwide release of RÖKKUR, the joint album of Norwegian composer and performer Maja S. K. Ratkje and Icelandic ensemble Nordic Affect (Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir, Marie Stockmarr Becker, Hanna Loftsdóttir, Guðrún Óskarsdóttir). RÖKKUR on Bandcamp RÖKKUR on streaming other services Read the great album reviews here. What is ‘rökkur’? ‘Rökkur’ is the
The latest album release by acclaimed Norwegian band Erlend Apneseth Trio is made in collaboration with renowned experimental composer and vocalist Maja S. K. Ratkje. Their impromptu concert together in 2022 was a glorious kick-off for a five-day festival and was luckily put on tape. After reworking and reimagining the recorded material with their steady
Released August 26, 2022, on Bandcamp and CD. Label: SANNTIDSMUSIKK · SATIMU 008 Free improvised chaos at Podium, Oslo, 16 June 2009.Recorded by Kjetil Hanssen.Editing, mastering and artwork by Lasse Marhaug.Executive producer: Petter Flaten Eilertsen. Maja wishes to thank Per Gisle and Harald from Dans For Voksne for organizing the event, Kjetil and Petter for
Danse Macabre (CD) Read More »
by Solveig Kjelstrup & Maskinanlegg / Maja Ratkje & Bjørn Hatterud Released August 26, 2022 on Bandcamp and CD. Label: SANNTIDSMUSIKK · SATIMU 009 All music composed and performed by Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje & Bjørn Hatterud.Cover concept by Helene Rickhard.Photography by Fin Serck-Hanssen.Layout by Lasse Marhaug.Executive producers: Petter Flaten Eilertsen & Kjetil Hanssen. Originally
Focus Foucault Foccacia / Malleus Maleficarum Maximum Read More »
Bergen Kunsthall: «Live in Bergen» captures Avant Joik’s two amazing concerts during the opening weekend of Joar Nan- go’s Festival Exhibition at Bergen Kunsthall in 2020. The album is based on the recordings from two con- certs held at Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall on 4 Sep- tember 2020 and presents for the first time the groundbreaking
Avant Joik: Live in Bergen Read More »
Motvind records: ’Vannstand’ (Sea Level) is a tribute to the slowly pulsating tidal shifts along the length of the Norwegian coastline. In Vannstand children are given the opportunity to reflect and respond musically to their relationship with the coast, the water and the sea. The composer, Maja S. K. Ratkje states: What could be more
Echo Chamber 3.0 is a concert performance for the ear, by Maja S. K. Ratkje written for Trondheim Voices in 2020. The piece is a continuation of Ekkokammer 2.0 which is a staged performance, premiered in 2015. The album is a 2xCD with one version in English (Echo Chamber), and one in Norwegian (Ekkokammer). The
Echo Chamber 3.0/Ekkokammer 3.0 Read More »
Pictures From a Sinking City was commissioned by the Trondheim Soloists, and had its world premiere in Trondheim on 30 January, 2020. Tale of Lead and Frozen Light exists in two versions: one for a string quartet, Tale of Lead and Light, written for the Engegård Quartet, and one for a string ensemble, commissioned by
Maja S. K. Ratkje: Works for String Orchestra Read More »
Composed and performed for TUSK Virtual 2020. Part 1 of 2. Maja S. K. Ratkje is using voice and live electronics (with software by Øyvind Brandtsegg). Link to concert film as streamed at TUSK Virtual Oct 7th 2020 given upon request from those who buy the album. All music composed and performed by Maja S.
Corona lockdown concert for TUSK Festival 2020 Read More »
Based upon Ratkje’s music created for the ballet Sult (Hunger) by profiled director Jo Strømgren for the Norwegian National Ballet, this is a departure from records and live settings normally associated with Maja S. K. Ratkje as a solo performer, as we find her placed behind a modified, wiggly and out of tune pump organ,
Rune Grammofon: “Formed in 1995, SPUNK comprises four of Norway’s most innovative musicians: Maja S. K. Ratkje, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lene Grenager and Kristin Andersen. The quartet combine talents that range from vocal experiments, instrumental virtuosity, impulsive improvisation and a witty sense of play. All four work in the indefinable area between modern composition, free
Still Eating Ginger Bread for Breakfast – The 20th Anniversary Concert Read More »
Booklet text (Norwegian below): Could the act of composing include my sound as a voice performer? The two works on this album are two different answers to this question. From the moment I started to compose new classical music I have carefully worked on developing my own voice as an instrument. Improvising with others has
The combination of the trio POING and vocalist Maja S. K. Ratkje has been referred to as among the best, boldest and most innovative players in the Norwegian music community. On their new album, “Kapital&Moral”, they present a selection of songs from the past century that address the theme of the impact that capital has
Crepuscular Hour was originally commissioned for a performance at the Ultima festival 2010 in Uranienborg church, Oslo. The work is composed for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians and concert organ. All performers surround the audience, and are amplified locally. In 2012, the piece was adapted for a performance at the Town Hall of
Concert recording from Rødbrygga, Inderøy, April 2013. Maja S. K. Ratkje (voice and live electronics) with the trio SAKA: Kristoffer Berre Alberts (saxophones), Jon Rune Strøm (double bass), Dag Erik Knedal Andersen (drums). CD and Vinyl. Mixed by Lasse Marhaug.