EDVARD Prize to Tuva Syvertsen and Erik Sollid (Valkyrien Allstars)

Since 1998, TONO has awarded the EDVARD Prize annually to composers, songwriters and lyricists who have particularly distinguished themselves in the previous year. Tonight, the fourth and penultimate of this year's awards was presented at the Parkteateret in Oslo.

– A wonderful recognition!

Tuva Syvertsen and Erik Sollid (Valkyrien Allstars) were awarded the award, completely surprisingly during their concert at Parkteateret Scene in Oslo tonight by last year's winner in the same category, Christian Blom.

– Very surprising and very pleasant, said Tuva Syvertsen and Erik Sollid.

Christian Blom won the EDVARD Prize in the "Open Class" category last year, and presented the prize in the same category to Tuva Syvertsen and Erik Sollid (Valkyrien Allstars) on behalf of the jury.

The jury's reasoning:
"Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen and Erik Sollid (Valkyrien Allstars) have shown with the album "Farewell, Family and Friends" that they are some of the best folk music has to offer. They serve an extremely successful symbiosis of folk music, songs and rock, always with the Hardanger fiddle central to the sound. The band maintains a distinctive character while breaking new ground. 

Syversten and Sollid lead the way, and are the bellwethers of folk music. They are a great inspiration to many young people both within and outside the folk music community, and also abroad they promote and arouse interest in Norwegian folk music. The band's mission here in the world seems to be to unite Norwegian traditional music with elements from pop, blues and rock.

The song material on "Farewell, Family and Friends" is to a greater extent than before self-composed. There are still elements of traditional Hardanger fiddle songs and old folk songs, but it is the band's own lyrics and melodies that dominate the release. It is raw and real both lyrically, musically and vocally. The album is solid, exciting and challenging, and wants something far more than just to please. The expression is gloomy, but as always with Valkyrien it has an intense nerve and presence. Deep roots are highlighted. "Farewell, Family and Friends" is modern music in an old spirit. In short, a remarkable release."

The 2015 EDVARD jury consisted of composers Nils Henrik Asheim (jury chair), Arvid Wam Solvang, Marte Heggelund, Rita Engedalen, Terese Birkeland Ulvo, and music publisher Jan Stefan Bengtsson.

The Edward Prize, named after Edvard Grieg, is a prize that TONO has awarded annually since 1998, and which is awarded to authors who have created musical works and lyrics for music 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. Emphasis is also placed on the author's other production.