Wood Works

by Danish String Quartet

Overview

This release on Denmark's Dacapo label may seem an unlikely candidate for the classical best-seller lists, but several factors have propelled it to that level. Among these are the residence of the Danish String Quartet at New York's Lincoln Center and the viral success of a video performance of some of a three-section wedding piece heard on the album. The quartet even raised funds for the release via a crowdfunding site, if not a first for the classical sphere then close to it. But the most important factor of all is that nobody has ever done anything quite like this before. The members of the quartet (in all but one case) have arranged folk songs of several Scandinavian countries for string quartet. That's not a particularly common medium for folk song arrangements, but it's the extremely varied nature of the arrangements that really stands out. The term "arrangement" isn't even quite right; the 13 tracks take a step in the direction of classical compositions. The collection as a whole includes a large range of ideas, and so do many of the individual pieces, which gives the effect of examining the tune through a kaleidoscopic lens. A tune may be introduced by a slow prelude based on its collection of pitches, may be harmonized, made into polyphony, or subjected to deeper forms of alteration. It's fascinating, it rewards repeated hearings, and it's consistently lively and fun in a relaxed way. The sound, captured in a Danish museum hall, is superb. Possibly the sleeper classical hit of 2014. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	08/12/2014
Label:	Dacapo
UPC:	0636943608128
Rank:	81057

Tracks

1. Ye Honest Bridal Couple: S¿¿nderho Bridal Trilogy~[Part 1]
2. Sekstur from Vendsyssel / The Peat Dance
3. Vigstamoin
4. Walz after Lasse in Lyby
5. Ribers No. 8
6. Ye Honest Bridal Couple: S¿¿nderho Bridal Trilogy~[Part 2]
7. Five Sheep, Four Goats
8. O Fredrik, O Fredrik
9. Ack V¿¿rmeland, du sk¿¿na
10. Easter Sunday / Polsk after Rasmus Storm
11. J¿¿sspodspolska
12. Old Reinlender from S¿¿nndala
13. Ye Honest Bridal Couple: S¿¿nderho Bridal Trilogy~[Part 3]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Danish String Quartet   Primary Artist,String Quartet

Technical Credits

Poul Bjerager   Original Material
Swedish Traditional   Composer
Denise Burt   Design
Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen   Composer
Norwegian Traditional   Composer
Rasmus Storm   Original Material
Frederik Oland   Composer
Preben Iwan   Mastering
Danish String Quartet   Liner Notes,Arranger
Caroline Bittencourt   Photography
Asbjorn Norgaard   Composer
Fredrik Schoyen Sjoelin   Composer
Sebastian Eskildsen   Engineer,Producer
Nikolaj Busk   Additional Music