Description
ALF CRANNER – BOTH LAUGH AND CRY (1964)
Alf Cranner (1936–2020) was a Norwegian folk singer, songwriter and visual artist. He is considered by many to be a pioneer of the Norwegian folk song wave of the 1960s. Alf Cranner studied painting at the State School of Arts and Crafts. He taught music and drawing until his retirement in 1998. Cranner received violin lessons as a child (from his grandfather Ingvald Cranner, among others) and began playing the guitar at the age of 13. He had versatile musical interests. Cranner played classical guitar and frequented jazz circles. In 1961 he became a member of Visens venner. Here he met, among others, the Swedish folk singer Olle Adolphson, who helped determine his career choice. Here he also began his work with Norwegian folk songs, which would characterize his repertoire until the mid-1970s. Rolv Wesenlund, who was then the recording manager for the Philips record company, offered Cranner a recording contract in 1963, and the following year the LP "Fiine antiquiteter" was released. In 1964 he met Alf Prøysen, an acquaintance that was crucial for Cranner's further development. Prøysen wrote several texts that Cranner set to music, including "Å, den som var en løvetann". At the same time he met the composer Geirr Tveitt, a meeting that resulted in the LP Både le og gråte (Both Laugh and Cry) (1964), with poems by Jakob Sande set to music.
1 Spring sign
2 Flute song
3 The Bear And The Fox
4 Marian
5 Andante Funébre
6 Autumn Song
7 The Coppersmith Rooster (A Norwegian Rooster That Is a True-Born Spanish Spaniel)
8 Santa On The Copper Spoon
9 Spring birds
10 The Caller And The Cat
11 The Woman
12 Muse In The Organ
13 I Want to Go Home
14 Hannibal the Cat
15 Midsummer's Eve