Listen & tracks
9 works · 39:23
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1 Kärestans död (Death of the beloved) Traditional 5:32
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2 Anna Jennifer Eriksson 3:15
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AlcioneMarin Marais 3 movements4:42
- 3 Menuet [Instrumental] 1:14
- 4 Prelude [Instrumental] 2:07
- 5 Gigue [Instrumental] 1:21
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6 Pavane: Thoughts of a Septuagenarian Esbjörn Svensson 3:58
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Marais Echoes & Nordic MoodsJennifer Eriksson 2 movements5:01
- 7 La Marieé, Menuet 2:32
- 8 Glädjens blomster (The flowers of joy) 2:29
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Sonate in G minor for violin & continuoJohan Helmich Roman 4 movements7:27
- 9 Largo 2:45
- 10 Allegro 1:39
- 11 Intermezzo 1:09
- 12 Allegro ma non presto 1:54
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13 Löv som faller (A leaf falls) Olof Wendel 3:43
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14 Sans frayeur (Without fear) Marc-Antoine Charpentier 2:38
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15 Kristallen den fina (The crystal so fine) Traditional 3:07
Much of the programme was arranged or composed for this lineup: voice/violin, violin, viola da gamba, cimbalom, and guitar/theorbo.
The recording continues The Marais Project’s approach to repertoire that is diverse and engaging, played on voice/violin, baroque and modern violin, cimbalom, theorbo/lute and viola da gamba. The concert cimbalom is rare in classical chamber music, and Olof Wendel’s part is a distinctive colour throughout.
Made over two days at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm, the programme moves from Swedish folk ballads and new works by Jenny Eriksson and Olof Wendel to instrumental music from Marin Marais’s opera Alcione, Esbjörn Svensson’s Pavane: Thoughts of a Septuagenarian, Johan Helmich Roman’s Sonate in G minor, and Charpentier’s aria Sans frayeur.
In the artist’s words
Not all musical collaborators become friends, but we have. We also bring out the best in each other artistically. Our cross-hemisphere relationship started when Catalina contacted Jenny to explore the possibility of performing in Australia. We met in Stockholm in the summer of 2022 and agreed to plan an Australian tour at the beginning of 2023. All but one of our Australian performances sold out. There were challenges, however, including one of us missing a performance due to Covid, an ill family member, and Jenny seriously breaking her arm the week before our final Sydney concert. In the northern summer of 2023 Tommie, Susie and Jenny – who had successfully rehabilitated after surgery – travelled to Sweden for a return tour. This included urban and regional concerts as well as a memorable appearance at the Australian Embassy, Stockholm. We also set aside two days to put down Nordic Moods & Baroque Echoes at Atlantis Studios, Stockholm, where ABBA used to record. Much of the repertoire for the album was arranged or composed specifically for our unique instrumentation: voice/violin, violin, viola da gamba, cimbalom, and guitar/theorbo. From the start of our partnership we chose to blend baroque music, original compositions and arrangements, as well as folk music from both our countries. This meant that each of us was out of our comfort zone at some point in time! We hope that this album helps build deeper friendship and musical understanding between our two wonderful nations.
Reviews
... fascinating collaboration of violin, viola da gamba, guitar, theorbo and cimbalom, to produce a range of tonal colours which must surely be unique. Each of the 15 tracks on the disc has its own distinct flavour although best listened to a few tracks at a time. Listening to all in one sitting is akin to eating an entire feast on one’s own. Best shared a course at a time with others. ★★★★
Artists
The Marais Project
ensemble
The Marais Project is a celebration of music for the viola da gamba inspired by Marin Marais, the great French virtuoso viola da gamba performer and composer. Formed by Jennifer Eriksson in 2000, the ensemble’s original aim was to perform the complete viola da gamba works of Marais – a monumental task which is more than 85% complete.
Duo Langborn/Wendel
ensemble
A Nordic duo comprising the unusual combination of baroque violin, played by Catalina Langborn, and the rarely heard cimbalom played by percussionist and cimbalom specialist Olof Wendel.
Tommie Andersson
composer
Tommie Andersson was born in Sweden and has been based in Sydney since 1984. He is regarded as Australia's leading specialist in lutes and early guitars, and as a continuo player and soloist across the early-music repertoire.
Jennifer Eriksson
composer
Jennifer Eriksson completed her initial musical studies at the Sydney Conservatorium before moving to the Netherlands for three years of viola da gamba tuition with Jaap ter Linden at Rotterdam Conservatorium.
Marin Marais
composer
Marin Marais (1656–1728) was a French composer and master of the viola da gamba. His five books of Pièces de viole remain the summit of the French baroque viol repertoire.
Esbjörn Svensson
composer
Esbjörn Svensson (1964–2008) was a Swedish jazz pianist and composer who founded the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), among Europe’s most successful jazz ensembles at the turn of the century.
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
composer
Johan Helmich Roman
composer
Johan Helmich Roman's chamber music sits at the heart of Swedish Baroque: flute and violin sonatas of clear line and Handelian poise, written for court and for Stockholm's first public concerts.
Olof Wendel
composer
Olof Wendel is a percussionist and cimbalom specialist, and a member of the Nordic ensemble Duo Langborn/Wendel. He also composes and arranges for the instrument’s distinctive voice.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- The Marais Project · ensemble
- Duo Langborn/Wendel · ensemble
- Susie Bishop · voice, violin · tracks 1–8, 13 and 14
- Jennifer Eriksson · viola da gamba · tracks 1–14
- Tommie Andersson · theorbo, classical guitar · tracks 1–14
- Olof Wendel · cimbalom · all except tracks 9–12
- Catalina Langborn · violin, baroque violin
Technical credits
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Producer
Jennifer Eriksson
Mikael Marin
Philip Pogson
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Recording Engineer
Niclas Lindström
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Editing Engineer
Chris Doherty
Jennifer Eriksson
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Mixing Engineer
Chris Doherty
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Mastering Engineer
Michael Lynch
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Venue
Atlantis Studios, Stockholm
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 39 minutes 23 seconds
- Release date
- 10 Jun 2024
- Category
- Early music
- Genres
- Baroque, Contemporary Classical, Folk
- Musical work copyright
- © 2024 The Marais Project
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 2024 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 656
- EAN
- 9314574065626
More to explore
Exquisite Harmonies
Exquisite Harmonies features works for viola da gamba and harpsichord, and several harpsichord solos, largely from the French Baroque. The exceptions are Telemann, Abel and Australian composer Troy Russell. A nice treat is an improvised harpsichord fantasia in the style of Telemann.
Australian Monody
The Marais Project is joined by countertenor Russell Harcourt for a collection of largely Australian songs and instrumental works, spanning light and darkness, love and loss.
Two
Two brings together Marais Project founding members Jennifer Eriksson, viola da gamba, and Tommie Andersson, gallichon, theorbo and baroque guitar. Each plays alternate brackets of solos before they join in a splendid suite by Marin Marais.
The Garden Party
The Marais Project’s anniversary disc The Garden Party has a festive flavour, mixing world-premiere Marais arrangements and Eriksson’s title track with earlier Move recordings across French baroque, Swedish folk and South American song.
Spinning Forth
The title points to music still to come. The programme gathers French baroque viola da gamba repertoire with Swedish roots and newly commissioned Australian works, spinning forth in fresh directions.
Smörgåsbord
The Marais Project’s fifth disc gathers Swedish folk, Bellman songs, Roman and Marais chamber works, a jazz pavane and even ABBA, all heard for the first time in Australia on period instruments.