Kivlemøyane

Kivlemøyane, (English: The Kivle Maids), is the popular name of three dairy maids in Seljord, Telemark, who was turned to stone according to legend. Their image is presented in a natural formation in the mountain of Skorve in the valley Kivledalen. To the legend is also a number of Norwegian folk tunes.

The legend

This known Norwegian legend tells of three maids, who played their clarions during mass. Their music was so beautiful that all the attendants were distracted, and went out to listen to them instead of the priest. This angered the priest, who cursed the girls and turned them to stone. They are still visible in the mountain. After some sources, this happened in late catholic times, and the priest involved was the last catholic parson in Seljord.

The legend presents an orphic theme, and also indicates that the maids may have been fairies (Hulderpeople). It is also related to the legends of the Stanton Drew stone circles.

Music connected to the legend

There are a number of folk tunes and dance tunes connected to this legend. In Seljord, a regular suite was performed and preserved, consisting of four separate tunes. The music was played on bort willow pipe and hardanger fiddle. Most of this music derives from Seljord, and is played in unbroken tradition from fiddlers there. Many of the dances are fairly old. Edvard Grieg has arranged one of those dances for piano, and Eivind Groven played and arranged another. There is in all some twelve to fifteen tunes sorted in three separate suites connected to the legend.

Art connected to the legend

Kivlemøyane painted by Johanna Bugge Berge.

References

The legend was first recorded by Andreas Faye, who published the first collection of Norwegian tales and legends in 1837. Later, versions of the tale is recorded by a number of folklorists, among then Magnus Brostrup Landstad, Rikard Berge and Knut Loupedalen. This version is from a collection of Norwegian folk tales and legends dated 1995 (Det Norske Samlaget). The folk tunes connected to the story are collected by Eivind Groven and Arne Bjørndal, as well as Johan Halvorsen.