Kata

Exciting new voices from the Faroe Islands! Kata is an all-female vocal group with five of most mesmerizing voices from the remote islands: Greta Bech, Guðrið Hansdóttir, Arnfríð Lutzen, Eyð Berghamar Jacobsen and Unn Paturson. Kata is at the moment concentrating on Faroese songs, found in the books of musicologist Marianne Clausen (1947-2014). Clausens books contain the notations of old Faroese songs and variations of tunes that have been found on recordings dating back to 1902 and up to this day. The oldest recordings come fom Hjalmar Thurén in 1902. The songs Kvæði, Vísur, Skjaldur and other folksongs on the group´s new album Tívils Døtur have existed in the Faroese culture for centuries and have evolved through the years. Handed from one village to the next over the years. And the songs even have been exchanged between singers!

The songs that are presented on the album Tívils Døtur are mostly tunes that have almost been forgotten on the Faroe Islands. Nobody sings them anymore. The arrangements have been done by Greta Bech (Húgvutáttur and Grímur á Miðalnesi) and Unn Paturson (the rest of the songs).

Originally Kata was founded in 2006 by Faroese singers Anna Katrina Petersen and Anna Maria Olsen, mostly with purpose of performing Bulgarian folklore womens choir, arranged by composers like Philip Koutev and Kiurchiski. The group was very inspired by Bulgarian vocal groups and choirs, especially choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares.

The first Kata-group was active in the Faroe Islands in the period of 2006-2010, consisting of four singers: Anna Katrina Petersen, Anna Maria Olsen, Unn Paturson and Eyð Berghamar Jacobsen.
In 2013 the group was re-founded and now consists of five members: Greta Bech, Guðrið Hansdóttir, Arnfríð Lutzen, Eyð Berghamar Jacobsen and Unn Paturson. Rógvi á Rógvu (percussion) and Lasse Thorning Jæger (electronics) occasionally join the group for concerts.

The album Tívils Døtur was recorded in the oldest church still in use in the Faroe Islands, Ólavskirkjan, located in Kirkjubø. The church stems from approximately 1250. The band thought that it would fit well into the mood of the music. The album was produced by Unn Paturson.

Most of the songs on Tívils Døtur have a story that involves a girl, a women or a witch/ giantess of some kind. Some of the stories are kind of fairy-tales, or from fictious places.