Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer has been awarded TONO's EDVARD Prize in the Challenger 2019 category for the album "Klangbiotoper" and its accompanying release concert.
/ 20/09/2019 / Kristian Dugstad– Thank you very much. This award is an extreme encouragement and gives enormous energy to think new things further. “Sound biotopes” is non-ostentatious music, where I have searched inward in search of a quiet language. It is the most vulnerable and naked thing I have ever made. Therefore, it is particularly surprising and gratifying to receive the award for this project.
This was what Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer said when she received the award following her concert "Haugebonden" at the Riksscenen during Ultima 2019.
Thank you very much. This award is an extreme encouragement and gives enormous energy to think new things further. "Klangbiotoper" is non-ostentatious music, where I have searched inward in search of a quiet language. It is the most vulnerable and naked thing I have made. Therefore, it is particularly surprising and gratifying to receive the award for this project, said Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer when she received the award following her concert at Riksscenen during Ultima 2019.
The EDVARD Prize is awarded annually by TONO in five categories to composers and lyricists who have created musical works of particularly high quality in the previous year. A highly qualified professional jury selects the winners, who receive kr 50,000 as well as a trophy and a diploma, both designed by artist Magne Furuholmen.
«With an uncompromising approach to extended voice use, Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer directs attention to original and demanding themes, without alienating listeners. We are drawn into the work and the music in an intimate and loving way. It is rare that one can say that “I have not heard this before”, but one can here. We hear the sonorous biotopes in the references to nature. One encounters animal sounds and the song and sound of nature. The title of this EDVARD category – Challenger – is the very title of what Meyer does. She challenges us to listen and to think differently. “Sonorous biotopes” transcends genres and is unique. It is contemporary music, world music and jazz, but first and foremost it is unique, challenging and strong music.”
TONO has awarded the EDVARD Prize since 1998:
– It is a central part of TONO's work to highlight that music has value, and that music creation is an important work. With the EDVARD Prize, we highlight some of the most beautiful music that was created in the previous year, and with it we want to honor not only individual authors but also to create awareness about the important work that composers, lyricists and songwriters do, says TONO's communications manager, Willy Martinsen.
Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer was nominated for the award together with Biru Baby for the album "Ancient Call" and Knut Olaf Sunde for the concert "Himdalen".
The jury for the EDVARD Prize 2019 consists of Torgny Amdam (NOPA), Kate Havnevik (NOPA), Peter Edwards (NKF), Kristin Norderval (NKF), Ellen Brekken (Independent), Ole Børud (Independent), Jan Stefan Bengtsson (Music Publishers) and jury chair Stine Lieng (Music Publishers)
The EDVARD Prize is named after Edvard Grieg, and is a prize that TONO has awarded annually since 1998. The prize is awarded to authors who have created musical works and lyrics of high artistic quality. With the prize, TONO wants to increase attention to Norwegian composers and lyricists, and to increase Norwegians' understanding of, and knowledge of, newly written Norwegian music. The winner's music or lyrics must have been premiered or published in the previous year, but emphasis is also placed on the author's other production. The prize consists of kr 50,000,-, as well as a trophy and a diploma designed by Magne Furuholmen.
