Three Swedish Fiddlers

by Three Swedish Fiddlers

Overview

If the guitar is the national instrument of Spain, and the bagpipes are the national instrument of Scotland, the national instrument of Sweden is surely the fiddle. This disc presents three fiddlers who play in the folk idiom of the province of Dalarna, accompanied by nothing more than the occasional foot stomp. Having multiple fiddlers keeps the sound from being as shrill or scratchy as that of a solo fiddler, but the playing is basically unison, with one or another fiddler ducking out now and then for a bit of dark ornament, implied bass, or quasi-drone. Although the tunes have the usual gothic quality characteristic of Scandinavian music, the beats are from dances and are generally cheerful. The tunes are a mixture of originals and reworkings of classics. Some are almost orchestral in their massed power and trills ("Polska From Ore"), while others are decorously romantic ("Waltz From Transtrand") or jaunty and more polyphonic ("Polska From Bingsjoe"). If you already know some Scandinavian music (like JPP), it's fascinating to see similar things in a more schematic form. This album occupies a kind of middle ground. It's entertaining and accessible in its own right, but probably not a good place for beginners. If you're already into American folk fiddling or Scandi-folk acts like Vaesen, dive right in. ~ Kurt Keefner

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/1992
Label:	Shanachie
UPC:	0016351210128
Rank:	191764

Tracks

1. Bridal Tune from ¿¿je
2. Polska from Bingsj¿¿
3. Polska from R¿¿ttvik
4. Waltz from Orsa
5. Polska from Transtrand
6. Bridal Polska
7. Polska from R¿¿ttvik
8. Waltz from Transtrand
9. H¿¿¿¿k Olle's Great Polska
10. Springlek from Malung
11. Polska from Malung
12. Waltz from R¿¿ttvik
13. Polska from R¿¿ttvik
14. Bridal March from ¿¿lvdalen
15. Frisell's Great Polska
16. Springlek from Transtrand
17. March from Western Dalarna
18. Polska from Ore
19. Walking-Tune

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Three Swedish Fiddlers   Primary Artist
Pers Hans   Fiddle
Bjoern Staebi   Fiddle
Kalle Almlof   Fiddle

Technical Credits

Gordon E. Tracie   Translation,Text Translation
Bjoern Staebi   Producer
Pers Erik   Composer
Monica Dominique   Liner Notes
Anita Karl   Lettering,Cover Design,Jacket Design,Hand Lettering
Robert Vosgien   Digital Mastering
Blank Anders   Composer