If you only ever buy one CD of Swedish fiddle music - this is it!
author: FiddleOn Magazine, Spring/Summer 2007, Tom Bell-Richards
It’s full of contrasts, yet this is a disc of wholly gimmick-free music for two fiddles in the Swedish tradition. Rough and Shiny traditionally describes fiddles playing an octave apart. Emma Reid and Alicia Björnsdotter Abrams like to think it also refers to the contrast between the strongly accented rhythm notes of traditional dance music and the sparkling decorative notes added by the fiddler. It might also refer to a solidly grounded traditional music being played with immense artistry by these two young traditional music graduates. The CD is all “in the Swedish tradition,” but brings in lovely tunes by Chris Wood, Rob Harbron, and a Shetland lament for fishermen lost at sea. There’s a fascinating contrast at tracks 7, 8 and 9 where two polskas sandwich a tune in waltz time. They may all be “in three” and the speeds are fairly similar, but the difference in feel is dramatic. Whilst wholly true to the music’s roots, these well-planned contrasts also make for a CD that’s more listenable as a whole for non-specialists in this style. If you only ever buy one CD of Swedish two-fiddle music, I think this would be a good choice.
Read more...
This recording is a joy and a treasure.
author: Leslie Spitz-Edson
I've only once been fortunate enough to hear these two young women perform, and ever since I've been keen to get a recording of them. I must say, it's been worth the wait. I listened to it, candles burning, while I did all my Christmas baking, and I am still enjoying it in January.
This recording is a joy and a treasure. Most of these tunes are from masters of the Swedish fiddle, tradition-bearers who lived late and long enough to be recorded or even to participate in the folk revival of the 1970s. As in other such cases, it is remarkable good fortune to have these gems performed with such love and respect by younger players.
Most of this recording is devoted to the peculiarly Swedish polska, and features beautiful and intricate examples of stämma, the second-fiddle countermelody. This music is extremely evocative of landscape and of the feelings of being immersed in nature; it takes us, unequivocally, to Sweden. (for more details visit www.spindlewhorl.net)
Read more...