Screenshot from NRK-scenen, DOP: Sølve Sæther

Video documentation by Sigurd Ytre-Arne

Photo documentation by Nabeeh Samaan

Commisioned by Henie Onstad 

Premiere: 27. April 2024

Anja Lauvdal 

Piano and synths

Jenny Berger Myhre 

Modular and granular synths, video

Magnus Nergaard                   

Sound tech and electronics

Liam Alzafari                     

Lights, visuals and scenography

Zarina Saidova                       

Poster, illustrations and Zine

Kristin Helgebostad                                       

Choreography

Havgaver is an audio visual concert performance circling around topics of ecology and activism. Inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's writing on gift economy and indigenous wisdom, the piece reflects on how music can be a way of exploring a "me" that does not exist without its environment.

In naming the plants who shower us with goodness, we recognize that these are gifts from our plant relatives, manifestations of their generosity, care, and creativity. When we speak of these not as things or products or commodities, but as gifts, the whole relationship changes. - Robin Wall Kimmerer

A fanzine was designed and printed by Zarina Saidova and gifted to the audience, with texts by Anja Lauvdal, Karen O'Brien, Lars Dalen (Marinreparatørene) and Ingerid Salvesen.

Photo documentation by Nabeeh Samaan

A new piece for mixed ensemble, composed by Peder Simonsen and Jo David Meyer Lysne, focusing on just intonation and mechanical musical and visual instruments.

The visuals were made by Jenny Berger Myhre with analog slide projectors, hand cut slides and rotating prisms attached to mechanical motors. The movements were controlled electronically through a system developed by Thom Johansen at Notam for Jo David Meyer Lysne, who utilised a similar system to control magnets hovering above strings of the grand piano and guitars, allowing different pitches to resonate.  

These mechanical instruments, both sonic and visual, will be further developed in a project with Jo David, Jenny and Stein Urheim in November 2026.