Each winter, on the first full moon of the year, musicians brave Norway’s interior to perform at the only IceMusic Festival in existence by wrapping their lips and hands around ice sculptures.
Terje Isungset, a Norwegian who has been creating and performing his own ice instruments for many years, is the creator of Ice Music. The IceMusic Festival, a festival of music and winter held inside a hollowed-out ice cave in Geilo, Norway, was founded by him in addition to being one of the best musicians in the profession.
Making musical instruments out of ice is an intriguing solution with a deep significance. Its creators, music pioneers Terje Isungset and Pal K Medhus, aim to draw attention to water, one of society’s most crucial natural resources. The absence of still water in several regions of the planet is the fundamental cause of this action. People even pass away from thirst in India and Africa, for example. The Ice Music Festival has developed into a singular occasion that serves as a warning to use these 3% of the planet’s still water wisely. The amazing sound is simultaneously being created by an ice miracle.
Gloves are a must to keep the ice instruments covered, according to musicians. Otherwise, they would begin to melt, making it much more difficult to play the instrument in general. The performers must schedule how long they want their concert to last, which is why the shows are brief. The fact that the instruments are made a few hours prior to the performance is another crucial factor. The lake water in Geilo is the ideal source because of its strategic location and ability to finally produce the breathtaking sounds of nature. Making sure the instruments don’t start melting or losing their shape before the performance is essential after they are manufactured.
It is simpler to keep the instruments unaffected the colder it is. However, if there is a chill in the air, the musicians do not perform. Their lips would then only adhere to the reed in this manner. The Ice Music Festival is hosted indoors, in the cave of ice, to prevent this issue. This keeps the festival’s moniker unique and fosters a mysterious atmosphere. Those who have taken part in the festival claim that it is either the most singular musical event in the world or a wonderful fusion of nature and music.
They will return with a programme that places more of an emphasis on nature itself, free of noise and light pollution, during a full moon from February 1–4, 2023.
