Bukkene Bruse

The Oslo-based quartet Bukkene Bruse (pronounced: BUH-kayna BREW-sah) ranks among Norway’s finest ensembles while serving as one of its foremost musical ambassadors. Late in 1994 the group traveled to China to represent Norway during official festivities marking four decades of diplomatic ties between the nations. Selected as official musicians for the Lillehammer Olympics in 1998, they carried their self-described “New Norwegian music with ancient roots” to performances in Tokyo, Barcelona, Madrid, and Atlanta, GA. The following year brought them the distinguished Prøyenprisen in recognition of their service to Norwegian music. Also in 1999 they appeared in Mozambique under the auspices of the Save the Children foundation. Established in 1988, the ensemble issued its self-titled debut album in August 1993. Three years afterward their second release featured guest arranger and keyboardist Bjørn Ole Rasch, who joined as a permanent member before the quartet tracked its third album, Steinstolen (Hello), in November 1998. Issued in the United States under the title The Stone Chair, the recording marked the first occasion any Bukkene Bruse material reached North American listeners. In December 2001 the band delivered the Christmas album Den Fagraste Rosa (The Most Beautiful Rose), which later earned a Norwegian Grammy nomination; the project appeared in America the next year retitled The Loveliest Rose.