From two corners of the world, Slovak flautist Michaela Antalová and Norwegian double bassist Adrian Myhr conjure an extraordinary soundscape inspired by the melodies of a single bird: the nightingale.
Their latest album, Sing Nightingale, takes flight from this shared muse, weaving together distinct folk traditions into a rich tapestry of global sounds. The duo builds on the meditative charm of their 2021 debut, Zvony (Bells), which featured harmonium, cricket field recordings, and the resonant voices of a Slovak male choir.
At the album’s heart is a reimagining of the Slovak folk song “Zaspievaj Slavicku (Sing Nightingale).” The duo transforms the songbird’s call into a vivid exploration of global instrumentation, merging earthy traditions with ethereal textures.
On the haunting track “Night Singing,” Michaela brings the ancient Slovak fujara—a towering, shepherd’s bass flute—to life, its deep, resonant tones layered over a field recording of an actual nightingale by musicologist Tomáš Šenkyřík.
Here, Michaela’s flute mimics the bird’s nocturnal trills and improvisations, creating a duet where human artistry echoes nature’s virtuosity.
The album’s title is a fitting nod to the nightingale’s epic journey. On “Worm Moon,” inspired by the spring full moon that heralds the bird’s return from its African wintering grounds, Adrian’s double bass creates slow undercurrents, brightened by the interplay of Michaela’s fujara and the sweet song of a real nightingale. The result is a piece as timeless and poignant as the bird’s migratory cycle.
The duo’s global reach extends to the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle—or hardingfele—which features on “Lament and Rosenhave (Rose Garden).” These tracks draw on the nightingale’s symbolic resonance: a creature of eternal love, sacrifice, sorrow, and loss.
Celebrated fiddler Helga Myhr joins the pair, her mournful bowing entwined with Adrian’s double bass and Michaela’s seljefløyte (willow flute). The seljefløyte, akin to Slovakia’s overtone flute koncovka, bridges the traditions of Norway and Slovakia, blending their distinctive folk sounds into a new hybrid style.
For “Dolu Ovce Dolinami (Sheep Down the Valleys),” a reimagined Slovak fujara melody, Adrian invited Iranian santur player Javid Afsari Rad to contribute his shimmering tones. Strikingly, Iran’s national bird is also the nightingale, forging a serendipitous link that underscores the bird’s universal symbolism.
The santur, reminiscent of the Slovak cimbalom, lends a luminous quality to the track, drawing a poetic connection between disparate traditions.
Across its 11 tracks, Sing Nightingale is a beguiling fusion of folk, avant-garde improvisation, and jazz sensibilities. It pays homage to a creature that has inspired musicians and poets across centuries while uncovering unexpected connections in the shared language of folk traditions.
The result is a reflection of music’s power to transcend borders, merging voices from different lands into a harmony that feels both ancient and refreshingly new.
Check out Sing Nightingale by Michaela Antalová & Adrian Myhr on Bandcamp here.
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