Triptyk

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This innovative trio takes the idea of traditional Swedish folk and gives it a unique new setting made up of equal parts art music, dance music, jazz, and classical. Fiddler Ola Bäckström, master of the nyckelharpa Johan Hedin, and multigenred saxophonist Jonas Knutsson seem a perfect match on these mostly original tracks, finding a balance between the traditions they all know and the adventurous ideas they all harbor. They find ambient solace in the ancient Swedish "Psalm 199" and energetic dance steps in Hedin's composition "Yrsnö." In all but one track on Triptyk they are a simple trio of sax and fiddles, each artist equally front and center, exchanging interesting counterpoints and harmonies, often surprising even the experienced listener with subtle turns of phrase. This record ranks with newly composed folk music like Moller and Willemark's Norden projects, daring without being ostentatious or loud, letting the old sounds shine through the new ideas. --Louis Gibson

Tracks:

Triptyk
Yrson
Tjardalen
Psalm
Tragudars Land
Rattvikspolska
Viken
Carins Polska
Occult Diary
Diarium Spirituale

Amazon.com

This innovative trio takes the idea of traditional Swedish folk and gives it a unique new setting made up of equal parts art music, dance music, jazz, and classical. Fiddler Ola Bäckström, master of the nyckelharpa Johan Hedin, and multigenred saxophonist Jonas Knutsson seem a perfect match on these mostly original tracks, finding a balance between the traditions they all know and the adventurous ideas they all harbor. They find ambient solace in the ancient Swedish "Psalm 199" and energetic dance steps in Hedin's composition "Yrsnö." In all but one track on Triptyk they are a simple trio of sax and fiddles, each artist equally front and center, exchanging interesting counterpoints and harmonies, often surprising even the experienced listener with subtle turns of phrase. This record ranks with newly composed folk music like Moller and Willemark's Norden projects, daring without being ostentatious or loud, letting the old sounds shine through the new ideas. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Shadows Dance Sad Waltzes with a Sigh of Rapture.......2001-01-17

The above title is from a quote in the booklet, "in the north there are a lot of shadows. there are far more shadows than people. in the south the shadows are sharper and clearer. it is easier to talk to them. in the north, they dance sad waltzes with a sigh of rapture." - per kirkeby. This describes better than I can the exquisite interleaving of the fiddle of Ola Backstrom, the nykelharpa (keyed fiddle) of Johan Hedin and the sax of Jonas Knutsson. Each of these musicians is a virtuoso on their instrument and together these tracks are hypnotic and soaring at the same time. One of my all time favorite albums. Has proved excellent car music also, traveling through the snow fields of Minnesota I arrive serene.

Average customer rating:

Triptyk

Manufacturer: Atrium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000E33U28

Product Description

10 TRACKS. Swedish trio (fiddle, nickelharpa & sax) performing a blend of contemporary and traditional folk music with influences from jazz and chamber music.