Scandi music session, 27 February 2016

It was a really good first session this week with a great range of instruments. We did two waltzes, Silkesvalsen in A dorian/minor after Evert Åhs from Älvdalen, and a D major waltz from Småland with the rather awkward name 'Flickornas dans på kyrkogården', [the girls' dance in the church yard]. I have added the dots and videos below.

Scandinavian Music Course

It's time again for a new Scandinavian music course with the Trad Academy! This time it will be a full 6 sessions starting on the 24th of February until the 13th of April, with a two week break over Easter (23rd and 30th of March) as people might be away over the holiday. As last time we will be in the lovely café at 14 Bacon street (E1 6LF), just off Brick Lane, and next to Shoreditch High Street Overground Station. It is also just a 10 min walk from Liverpool Street Station and 15 min walk from Old Street Underground Station.
In the 4 week autumn course I focused on different kinds of polskas in particular, but this time the course will have a wider scope, and we'll look at different kinds of tunes, as well as, style, harmonies, rhythms, dances steps, lyrics and arrangements. The whole package that is, and it's yours for a mere £45 (contact the Trad Academy for concession rates)! To sign up, send an email to Ed at the Trad Academy, and check out their website, or contact me, for more information.

Esbjörn Wettermark 2016

Note: The fiddlers on the flyer are Mårten Andersson (1845-1929) from Ljusdal, and Erik Ljung(1851-1928) from Delsbo.

Performance in Lewisham's Manor Park on the 31st of January

A week from now I will be performing at Richard Sanderson's Linear Obsessional Live event at the ArtsCafe in Manor Park in Lewisham. Looks like an interesting afternoon with a range of improvisational in addition to my own contribution. I've also promised to do a free improvisation set with Richard (possibly one of the UK's top/only free-impro melodeonist...), so that will be something  to look forward to!

This is Richard's text about the event (the whole thing can be rear here):

'A concert of extraordinary live music, in a lovely cosy cafe in a park in Lewisham, brought to you by Hither Green based label "Linear Obsessional Recordings"
Featuring
Barrel (Alison Blunt - Violin, Ivor Kallin - Viola, Hannah Marshall - Cello) Improvising string trio featuring 3 top-notch London improvisers. Barrel's music could almost make you believe in telepathy- the music is sparky, witty, complex and hugely enjoyable.
Kathy Hulme - off-centre songs and poetry from one half of "skrewball folk" duo C-siders. Kathy's work is always refeshingly original and peculiarly affecting.
Esbjorn Wettermark - Spectacularly talented Swedish folk musician will play a solo set of traditional tunes on clarinet and melodeon.

Food, soft drinks, coffees and teas available. You are welcome to bring a bottle! I dare say we'll all goto the pub afterwards too....'

And its free!

A flyer

Being Laurel

Last Monday (5th of October), I taught Laurel Swift's Monday music session in West Ealing, as she was away for the week. Over a couple of hours we played through some of the group's tunes and I taught them a great if somewhat quirky polska from the repertoire of the Delsbo fiddler Erik Ljung. It was a lovely group of musicians and a lot of fun! This is the tune I taught, 'Persapojkarna' (filmed by Mary Doody).