Himmelskip

Description

Himmelskip is the sophomore instrumental album by a duo consisting of the Norwegian blues guitarist Knut Reiersrud and the Norwegian organist Iver Kleive, released on the Norwegian indie label Kirkelig Kulturverksted in 1996. The album was recorded January 22-26, 1996, by Alf Christan Hvidsteen at St. Knuds kirke (Odense Domkirke), Denmark; with label head Erik Hillestad producing. (Recorded on a Studer A810 tape machine.) Arranged by Knut Reiersrud and Iver Kleive. Featuring Knut Reiersrud on guitars and Iver Kleive on church organ.

Organist Iver Kleive and guitarist Knut Reiersrud are established musicians in Norway. Both have performed concert tours in the USA and a number of other countries. In addition to their solo careers they have together developed a concept “Blå Koral” (“Blue Chorale”). In 1991 they released a CD of the same name which became a noted phenomenon. This was followed by the series of church concerts. Their music was used to end the opening ceremony with a crescendo at the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994 at Lillehammer. This CD “Himmelskip” (“The Ship of Heaven”) further developes the same concept – based on Norwegian and North European church chorale and religious folk music. To record “Himmelskip” they returned to Odense Cathedral in Denmark where “Blå Koral” was created. [CD liner notes]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/himmelskip/296113429)

CD tracklist:

01. Himmelskip – 5:40
02. Herre Gud, ditt dyre navn og ære – 4:15
03. Jesus Kristus er vår frelse – 2:18
04. Kirken, den er et gammelt hus – 5:20
05. På det store hav me siglar – 2:25
06. Et lite barn så lystelig – 3:30
07. I al sin glans nu stråler solen – 7:20
08. Fagert er landet – 3:05
09. Jesus, det eneste, helligste, reneste – 3:30
10. The Ship Is At The Landing – 4:25
11. Om nogen ondt meg vil – 4:00
12. Landkjenning – 4:30

Note: Re-issued on 12-inch vinyl double LP by Kirkelig Kulturverksted in 2018, housed in a gatefold sleeve. (Remastered from the analoge tapes and cut from 24/96 digital.) “Det var 84 supretrange vindeltrappetrinn inne i en slags mursteinstube opp i Domkirke-spiret i Odense. Tekniker Alf Christian Hvidsteen og en dansk roadie som hadde røyka på seg kun én fungerende lunge – og en Studer båndmaskin på 100 kilo. Et lite feiltrinn, en liten ubalanse og det ville blitt dødsulykke istedet for en 100% analog innspilling av Ivers og mitt oppfølgeralbum til Blå Koral. Men det var CDens tiår (90tallet) så først nå, snart 23 år senere, har samme Alf funnet spolebåndene på Nasjonalbiblioteket i Rana. Klippet og limt – og endelig er Himmelskip ute som dobbelt-LP.” – Knut Reiersrud