Birkeris: ”The Birch Boughs”
Folkmusic from around the world
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1. |
Branle
de la Haie (France) |
In this branle the dancers are lined up in
rows. The melody comes from Orchesographie by Thorinot Arbeau (1596).
That opus also contains choreography and music tabulatures and is considered
one of the most reliable sources of our knowledge of the dance and music
traditions of sixteenth-century France. |
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2. |
Princess Royal (Ireland) |
This irresistable melody was composed by the Irish
harpist Thomas O’Carolan more than 300 years ago. |
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3. |
The Brosna Slide/ Padraig
O’Keefe’s Slide/Murphy’s Slide (Ireland) |
These are three exhilarating and popular slides,
that Birkeris performed in Clonmel, Ireland, at an Irish music festival. |
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4. |
Fanny Powers (Ireland) |
This is also a well-known and beloved theme by Thomas
O’Carolan, here arranged for Birkeris’ guitars and flutes. |
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5. |
Kerry Polkas (Ireland) |
These festive and cheerful dance tones come from
County Kerry in Ireland. |
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6. |
Horgalåten (Sweden) |
This characteristic Swedish waltz is from the Hälsingland
region and is arranged by Staffan Bergman, with charming solos in the final
sections. |
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7. |
Trønderpolsk
/Snurrepisken (Norway/Denmark) |
This dance from the Norwegian area of Trøndelag starts
as a three-beat melody and then changes to Danish ”cracks of the whip.” Thus,
this number’s name: ”Trønd polka” and ”Swinging whip.” |
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8. |
Leksand’s Bride’s March (Sweden) |
When the bride approaches in her boat on the great
Lake Siljan, she is received by this ornamental bride’s march played by the
local folk musicians. |
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9. |
Debka
ud (Israel) |
This piece exudes the typical Middle Eastern Doric
and Phrygian keys. |
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10. |
Kyra Giorgena/Toy Botanikos (Greece) |
This piece brings the Greek instrument the bouzouki
to the fore. In the 1920’ies the instrument was imported from Turkey and was
inspired by the Turkish saz. It is especially known from the movie Zorba
the Greek. |
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11. |
Haramiisko Horo (Bulgaria) |
This exciting melody in 7/8-time has several
instrumental solos. It was arranged by the clarinetist Claus Mathiesen. |
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12. |
I saw an old boat (Italy) |
This old Sicilian ballad is strummed by two
mandolins so no one is in doubt as to its geographic origin. |
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13. |
Baglæns
Kontrasejre (Backwards Contra) (Denmark) |
The region of Salling in Jutland in Denmark is the
origin of this dance, well-known to every Dane. |
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14. |
Branle
de la Haie (France) |
Here Birkeris gives an encore of the CD’s first
number. But this time it starts in the tune’s original consort arrangement of
recorder and strings and finishes in the somewhat lighter tutti version that
began the CD. |
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15. |
Wiggen (Sweden) |
Rubert Wigg composed this wonderful and humorous
polka, which thus rounds off this musical voyage. |
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Musical direction and
arrangement |
Michael Møller, founder of Birkeris in 1981 and its
leader until 2000. Since 2000 the leader has been Leif Svensson. |
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Producer |
Michael
Møller |
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Recording and mix |
Kings Field Records. Bornholm, Denmark. 1997 |
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Contact with Birkeris |
Michael
Møller Andersen
Nexøsvej 23 DK-2860
Søborg Denmark |
Telephone +45-39 69 75 30 Telefax +45- Email mim@birkeroed.dk |
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