ArtistInfo

Sågskära
Krook!

Album SE 1997 on Drone Music label
World (Nordic)

Text from liner notes: The music of drummers, wedding fiddlers and enchanted women. And the musicians were ordered to get ready to play with such gusto that they might be heard throughout the neighbouring countryside. Thereupon the bridal procession make their way on horseback to the church. Some outriders, ancient and honourable men, head the procession, followed by musicians with viols, bagpipes, hautboys and drum before the bridegroom, and the priest behind. Throughout the journey the music rang out and it was only the bride's crown which prevented the young horses from charging... The above description of a wedding procession comes from Samuel Krook's famous speech to the Småland Society at the University of Uppsala in 1749. Krook gives a detailed account of folkmusic in central Värend in the early 18th century. Through his description we enter a fascinating world ringing with the sound of fiddles, shawms, bagpipes and drums. These instruments were primarily associated with the ceremonial music of the people, especially for weddings. This CD follows on from Krook's portrayal, and his detailed accounts have been a starting point for the resulting sound. The musical source is, then, the tiny area of Värend. We get a glimpse of the great stream of music which forms the background to our folkmusic, since the overall perspective is scaled down and the focus is on this microcosm of our culture. Värend is "one of the small lands in Småland" and has often been hailed for its ancient folk traditions, not least in Sweden's oldest ethnological description G.O.Hyltén Cavallius' "Wärend och Wirdarne". The fascinating musical history of this area has, however received less attention. Noteworthy instruments have been preserved here, such as the Swedish equivalent of the Celtic harp (known as the Harp of Kalvsvik), violins with resonance strings, and, last but not least, strange circumstances which brought about an altogether remarkable wooden drum. Besides Krook's famous description, there are a number of other sources, from the late 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century, in which we can follow the development of this instrument and its effect on folkmusic in Värend. This CD can be thought of as a direct follow-on from the earlier album Höök!, which sought some of the roots of folkmusic in hand-written notebooks from the 17th and 18th centuries. Attention in this new album focuses instead on the various streams of music found in a fairly restricted geographical area. We come across some of the same repertoire, but this time cultivated in a folk setting and usually recorded much later. A resounding veteran from Höök! is the Cahman organ. This 17th century instrument also has its rightful place in this production - a small rustic organ in a little parish church in the middle of Värend. An organ which, through the centuries has probably been heard together with many folkmusicians, and its fascinating origin is presented here in the words of the remarkable song from Röckla.

Musicians

	Sågskära , *1981 SE album by
	Pär Furå , bagpipes, jew's harp
	Anette Arvidsson dulcian
	Anders Svensson bvoc, fiddle
	Toste Länne vn, fiddle
	Magnus Gustafsson vn, fiddle, hurdy gurdy, psalterium
	Ulf Larsson voc, SE flute, vocals
	Marie Länne hrp, voc, harp, vocals
	Jörgen Axelsson organ, vocals
	Sven Kihlström perc, percussion
	Ulrika Gunnarsson voc, vocals

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