Kristine Tjøgersen and Benedicte Maurseth

Elja by Benedicte Maurseth (b. 1983) and Kristine Tjøgersen (b. 1982) is an innovative and ambitious work that unites tradition, contemporary music, and a strong ecological perspective within a fully realised artistic vision. Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and Carnegie Hall, and premiered in New York in 2025, the work represents an international breakthrough for an artistic practice in which local anchoring and global relevance converge. 

Drawing inspiration from the open landscapes of Hardangervidda, the composers create a rich and coherent sonic world in which birds, animals, weather, and vast expanses emerge as musical movements and states of being. Elja does not portray nature merely as a subject, but as a fragile ecosystem in which everything is interconnected. 

Through timbre, resonance, rhythm, and silence, the work conveys both the beauty of the living world and a quiet awareness of what risks being lost. The piece was written for the Kronos Quartet using specially built Hardanger fiddles, Hardanger viola, and Hardanger cello, developed by the Norwegian violin maker Ottar Kåsa, with Benedicte Maurseth as soloist. The sympathetic strings, alternative tunings, and rich overtone structures create an immersive sonic space in which the tonal heritage of the Hardanger fiddle tradition engages with new musical landscapes. In the meeting between Maurseth’s grounding in the oral Hardanger fiddle tradition and Tjøgersen’s precise and exploratory approach to sound, an expression emerges that is poetic, richly detailed, and sonically daring. 

Elja demonstrates how collaboration between different artistic practices can expand the possibilities of the instrument, the tradition, and contemporary music itself. Through its artistic originality, profound engagement with nature, and international impact, the work stands out as a significant contribution to the music of our time – a work that invites deep listening and reflection on humanity’s place within the wider ecological community.