Albums

Tuulikki Bartosik & Emma Reid
Truculent Ladies    TUEMCD1

Released in Orsa, Dalecarlia, 1 April 2006

Tuulikki and Emma discovered the music of Orsa independently: Emma as an 11-year-old at a fiddle course in Malung, and Tuulikki via a crackling archive recording at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.

Now they share a deep passion for the music inherited after the Orsa fiddler Gössa Anders Andersson (1878-1963). Together they have plunged into the depths of his fiddle style and tonal language, listened to archive recordings and then developed their own interpretations of his music. They want to find a way back to Gössa Anders’ ancient style of playing – the complex rhythms, the truculent swing, the phrasing, articulation, ornaments…the list is long. Tuulikki faces challenges like imitating the crisp accent of the bow with bellows and fingers, and adapting microtones to her chromatic instrument. The arrangements are most often based on a modal thinking, with inspiration taken from Gössa Anders’ two foremost playing partners, his daughter Gössa Anna Andersson (1906-1999) and Jämt Olof Ersson (1872-1938).

"When we discovered our mutual fascination a never-ending and winding journey began, taking us through time, backwards and forwards. The characters belonging to the music, our interplay and the continuous search have opened up a new world full of little insights and lessons. And the music itself carries so much wisdom! It is at the same time both fragile and stubborn, simple and hopelessly complicated. It speaks of joy and misery, life and death. We are forever grateful."

Track list

  1. Polska after Pål Karl / Polska efter Artur Lundberg / Grönviken (T. Bartosik)
  2. Orsa Bridal March
  3. Systerpolskor 1 och 2
  4. Systerpolska 4
  5. Lorikspolskan
  6. Orsa vals
  7. Leos gånglåt (E. Reid)
  8. Mamma Tiinas 50-års vals (T. Bartosik/E. Reid) / Bengts 50-års vals (E. Reid)
  9. Polska efter Jämt Olle / Svartviken
  10. Vaggvisa till Herr Lejon (T. Bartosik)
  11. Torsmopolskan
  12. Karl-Olofs polska
  13. Vals efter fadern
  14. Polska efter Jämt Olle / Pols efter Martinus Helgesen
  15. Väntan (T. Bartosik) / Polska efter Klockare Nyström
  16. Matikki reel (E. Reel)
  17. Polska efter Bränd Jon Larsson

Reviews
"One of the best folk music albums this spring"
- Lira (translated from Swedish)

"Emma on fiddle and Tuulikki on free-bass accordion bring new dimensions to the heritage after the fiddlers Gössa Anders Andersson, Blecko Anders Olsson and Pål Karl."
- Moratidningen (translated from Swedish)

"If the Harbron/Reid album whets your appetite for traditional Swedish music, then this album will provide a veritable feast. Largely influenced by the Orsa fiddler Gössa Anders Andersson (1878-1963) the free-bass accordionist and fiddler deliver an intriguing array of tunes not familiar to our ear. The modal scales, the microtones, some unusual rhythms all make for a CD ideal for those wishing to extend their own repertoire into a challenging style – or just lie back and conjure up images of Scandinavia!"
- Devon's Folk Magazine

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