Listen & tracks

3 of 36 tracks have a preview · 14 works · 65:52

1 Gammal fäbodpsalm Traditional 3:38
2 Fredmans Epistel No. 2 Carl Michael Bellman 2:28
3 Fredmans Epistel No. 12 Carl Michael Bellman 5:08
4 Fredmans Sång No. 32 Carl Michael Bellman 2:33
5 Fredmans Sång No. 65 Carl Michael Bellman 1:08
Sonata 1 (Stockholm 1727)Johan Helmich Roman 5 movements13:05
1. 6 Largo 4:24
2. 7 Allegro 2:21
3. 8 Larghetto 2:04
4. 9 Andante 2:26
5. 10 Vivace 1:50
11 Pavane: thoughts of a septuagenarian Esbjörn Svensson 3:52
Suite No. 2 in G minorMarin Marais 7 movements16:43
1. 12 Prelude 3:29
2. 13 Sarabande 2:23
3. 14 Rondeau 1:11
4. 15 Gavotte :57
5. 16 Menuet 1:23
6. 17 Plainte 3:48
7. 18 Petite Passacaille 3:32
19 Låt till Far Traditional 3:38
20 Födelsedagsvisa Traditional 2:15
21 Gråtlåten Traditional 2:21
22 Gullklimpen Traditional 2:05
23 Om sommaren sköna Traditional 4:50
24 Courante La Waterlô Andersson Ulvaeus Andersson 2:08

Directed by Jennifer Eriksson and Tommie Andersson, the programme grew from their shared Swedish heritage and from a 2012 concert series that finally put that repertoire on period instruments. Melissa Farrow (baroque flute), Fiona Ziegler (baroque violin) and tenor Pascal Herington join gamba and theorbo or classical guitar.

Arrangements by Andersson frame an old pastoral hymn from Dalarna, four Bellman epistles and songs, Roman’s 1727 flute sonata, Esbjörn Svensson’s pavane, Marais’s Suite No. 2 in G minor from the 1692 Pièces en Trio, a Swedish folk suite, the traditional Om sommaren sköna, and a baroque courante spun from ABBA’s Waterloo. The result is less a survey than a personal tasting plate across centuries of Swedish music.

In the artist’s words

We have been performing together in The Marais Project and many other ensembles for more than 25 years now. Alongside our shared musical loves, we also share a Swedish heritage. Tommie was born and grew up in Sweden, while Jenny’s Swedish grandfather, Knut Axel Eriksson, arrived in Melbourne in the 1920s. He never returned to his homeland. If it was not for a relative from Stockholm who wrote each year to the Australian branch of the Eriksson family, we would have completely lost contact with our Scandinavian forebears.

After many years of discussion, late in 2011 we finally decided to schedule a Swedish concert as part of The Marais Project’s 2012 concert series. It was quite emotional at times getting to know the works of Roman and Bellman and some of Sweden’s beautiful folk and other music through the unique lens of period instruments.

We believe we can safely claim that this repertoire has never been offered to listeners in Australia in this format. We have made no attempt to present a comprehensive historical overview of Swedish music. We simply focused on the music we enjoyed and a kind of Smörgåsbord emerged!

We would like to thank our talented and cross-culturally adaptable colleagues Melissa, Fiona and Pascal for contributing so much to this musical exploration. Pascal deserves special acknowledgment for getting his tongue around the challenges of Swedish pronunciation: Tommie and his daughter Freja were his tutors.

Why an Australian CD of Swedish music? Why not? Art does not have to be sensible. All worthwhile music is a labour of love: and we love this music. Smörgåsbord! is about exploring the contrasts in history, language and culture between our nations. It is also about the many life and musical stories that bring us together even though our homelands straddle the deep north and far south of the globe.

Music spans the distance.

— Jennifer Eriksson and Tommie Andersson

Reviews

This is the best kind of crossover. Swedish traditional and popular music across centuries and styles – folk, jazz, ABBA(!) – rubbing shoulders with songs and chamber music by composers Johan Helmich Roman and Carl Michael Bellman. The dishes are plentiful, varied and tasty without being overly rich, with just a little French dressing courtesy of Marin Marais. ... impeccably performed and hugely enjoyable musical smörgåsbord. ★★★★

— Will Yeoman, Limelight

SMÖRGÅSBORD! Is an accessible and wide-ranging treat. At all times it remains an expressive and educational aural event. Its packaging includes informative notes and clear translations, with attractive and appropriate photography for the musical atmospheres and material covered.

The longest movement or track is just short of five minutes, giving the recording good momentum. Some of the disc’s well-chosen and dynamically delivered music will instantly repeat in your head, or make you crave a repeat listening. New favourite works and arrangements abound here for us.

— Paul Nolan, Sydney Arts Guide

Smörgåsbord is addictive ... A rich heritage of Swedish Baroque music ... The Smörgåsbord musicians are an outstanding group of talented and experienced baroque specialists – Jenny on viol da gamba, Tommie on theorbo and classical guitar, Melissa Farrow on baroque flute, and Fiona Ziegler on baroque violin. Pascal Herington, a fine young tenor currently studying in Germany, provides vocals.

— Marguerite Foxon, Classikon

There is some very charming music on this new CD from the Australian early-music group. This is a well-presented and recorded CD. Particularly beautiful are the arrangements of traditional Swedish folk music and songs. The balance between instruments and sound quality is excellent and the accompanying booklet is attractive and informative.

— Catherine Milligan, AUSTA Magazine

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.

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.

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.

Andersson Ulvaeus Andersson

composer

Carl Michael Bellman

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.

Digital booklet

Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDF

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$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Buywell Music Australian Music Centre

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Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

The Marais Project · ensemble
Jennifer Eriksson · viola da gamba
Tommie Andersson · theorbo, classical guitar
Melissa Farrow · baroque flute · tracks 1–23
Fiona Ziegler · baroque violin · tracks 1–5, 11–23
Pascal Herington · tenor · tracks 2–5 and 23

Technical credits

Producer Jennifer Eriksson
Llew Kiek
Philip Pogson
Recording Engineer Chris Doherty
Mastering Engineer Andrew Edgson
Venue EMI Studios 301

Details

List price: $25.00 AUD
Total playing time: 65 minutes 52 seconds
Release date: 15 Feb 2015
Categories: Classical, Early music
Genres: Early Music, Baroque, Folk
Catalogue: MCD 512
EAN: 9314574051223

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.