From Senegal to Setesdal

Kirsten Braten Berg | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B00000JFRX
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,748 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #53 in Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Born of a chance backstage meeting, From Senegal to Setesdal marries the golden tones of Kirsten Bråten Berg (Norway's premier folk vocalist) with European mouth harp and the West African do-do (mouth-bow) and djembe (drum) player Kouame Sereba. Along with kora, Solo Cissokho's 21-stringed harp, Berg and her cohorts have created a sound of stunning grace and authenticity, performing traditional European melodies, West African lullabies, and a handful of folk tunes that are a mellifluous conjoining of elements rather than the overwrought fusion one might expect. Each member of the quartet sings, and while Berg is assuredly the best-known vocalist, the throaty tones of the men complement her richness with contrapuntal melodies, at times flowing seamlessly from one tongue to another. But the secret ingredient here is the presence of dual mouth harps, each providing rich texture, ambient drone, and mystical vibrations, each note a bread crumb on the path toward home. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best CD purchase I have made to date., October 25, 1999

By 

Karen Camloh (Beautiful Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Senegal to Setesdal (Audio CD)

I heard a review of this CD on NPR's "All Things Considered," where there was a short interview with Kirsten Braten Berg and a few seconds of three or four selections from the CD were played. I immediately wrote down the title and artist's names in order to begin my search for it. I finally bought it two months later, and I am so thrilled by this purchase. The music is so beautifully rich and colorful, and displays distinctly diverse cultural styles while making obvious their shared nuances... and somehow, their sounds are similar in many ways. The melodies are contagious, and though I can't speak either language which is sung, the lyrics are catchy and fun, and I sing along anyway. I get the impression, too, that the musicians really shared a great learning experience while working on this project, each learning about the others' culture. This really is wonderful, mostly uplifting music. Adding to my fondness for it is the fact that I bought it upon hearing a review. Go figure!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlikely yet beautiful meeting of cultures, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From Senegal to Setesdal (Audio CD)

The concept of a meeting of Norwegian and African musicians sounds unlikely on paper. Surprise, surprise! This CD is beautiful and entirely unique! Kirsten Braten Berg has one of the most lovely, pure voices on the planet and boy does it sound good framed by the superb kora and African percussion provided by her collaborators. Stands right up there with the Buena Vista Social Club as a charming, fun beautiful listening experience that proves that music really is the universal language.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong voices, January 31, 2010

By 

Leslie Leigh - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From Senegal to Setesdal (Audio CD)

I first heard Kirsten Braten-Berg's voice in "Nordisk Sang", a totally Scandinavian CD, which is nothing like American music at all. Her voice is pure & strong whether accompanied by instruments or not. I found another CD, "Kelpie", in which she mixes Celtic & Scandinavian music, & I liked that one too. So when I saw her album, "From Senegal to Setesdal" I jumped on it. People who like world music will probably like this too. Although I can't understand the language, her voice & music mixed with African voices & music, is fascinating & I find it bouncing around in my mind at odd times during the day. I like the music from Senegal, such as Orchestra Baobab, so I knew I would enjoy this CD.