NPR is streaming the new Trio Mediaeval album "A Worcester Ladymass" in its entirety: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/07/134160859/first-listen-trio-mediaeval-a-worcester-ladymass
I just received a copy of the record today and haven't listened yet, but if the samples are anything to go on, I'm sure it's brilliant.
The superb Norwegian Early Music vocal ensemble Trio Mediaeval have announced that their new album "A Worcester Ladymass", their fifth for 's New Series imprint, will be released on March 15. The music on the album is "a reconstruction of a 13th century votive Mass to the Virgin Mary, based on surviving manuscripts from a Benedectine Abbey in the English Midlands" and can be previewed at this e-card: http://player.ecmrecords.com/trio-mediaeval
Very highly recommended!
Listen to Norway reports that Arve Henriksen and Trio Mediaeval are teaming up for a special concert in London on February 14 which will include a program "uniquely devised for the occasion": http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011020411230238103456
Musical discovery often happens when you least expect it. I was at the P3 Guld afterparty making smalltalk with Säkert!'s violinist Frida Johansson and she mentioned that she mostly works in folk music. I have no idea what kind of reaction she expected from me, but of course I was very interested and happy to receive a copy of her other group Kraja's latest CD "Brusand Hav". Can't say that I know much about Scandinavian a cappella folk tradition outside of my limited experience with the excellent Trio Mediaeval, but I do know that I like Kraja a lot and was even more impressed to learn that almost every track on their new record is an original composition, quite an audacious tact! As for the wide-ranging lyrical sources they explore, I can't comment in detail because I am lacking proper liner notes, but if my Googling is correct, this particular tune is based on a poem by Verner von Heidenstam -- not that I follow the words too much, I'm far more enamored with their superb four-part harmonies. Definitely not the sort of new music I expected to stumble across on my most recent trip to Sweden, but definitely a discovery that is more than welcome. Tack Frida!
Kraja - Nu är det synd om de döda
The nominees for this year's Spellemanprisen (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:
Female artist:
Ane Brun - Live In Scandinavia (Det Er Mine/V2)
Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance (Sony BMG)
Sissy Wish - Beauties Never Die (Sony BMG)
Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (MBN)
Male artist:
Kenneth Ishak - Silver Lightning From A Black Sky (Division Records As)
Magnet - The Simple Life (Sony BMG)
Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles (Hektor Grammofon)
William Hut - Nightfall (Universal Music AS)
Pop group:
Blind Archery Club - The Union (Sony BMG)
Superfamily - Warszawa (Propeller Rec.)
The Royalties - The Royalties (Blister Music)
Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord Og Ögonblick (Sony BMG)
Electronica:
Alog - Amateur (Rune Grammofon)
Diskjokke - Staying In (Smalltown Supersound)
Salvatore - Days Of Rage (Racing Junior)
Rock:
BigBang - Too Much Yang (Warner Music/Grandsport Records)
Moving Oos - Peace And Love (Kong Tiki Records)
My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (MMC Records)
Raga Rockers - Übermensch (EMI/Pilot/Virgin)
The Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss (Racing Junior)
Country:
Hellbillies - Spissrotgang (EMI Music Norway)
Hemisfair - Blue Blue Grass Of Home (Wilma Records/Playground Music)
Shit City - God Bless Our Home (Voices of Wonder)
Steinar Albrigtsen - Moment Of Peace (Sony BMG)
Metal:
Audrey Horne - Le Fol (Indie Recordings)
Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli (Nuclear Blast)
Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao (Season Of Mist)
Red Harvest - A Greater Darkness (Season Of Mist)
Hip-hop:
El Axel - It Is Wha It Is (Pass It Records)
Madcon - So Dark The Con Of Man (Bonner Amigo)
Tommy Tee - No Studio No Time-The Wait (Tee Productions)
Folk:
Berit Opheim - Den Blide Sol (NorCD AS)
Ragnhild Furebotten - Endelig Vals (Talik Da)
Sigrid Moldestad - Taus (Heilo)
Trio Mediaeval - Folk Songs (ECM/Grappa)
Jazz:
Fossum-Aarum Quartet - F.A.Q. (Schmell)
Jon Balke - Book Of Velocities (ECM/Grappa)
Petter Wettre - Fountain Of Youth (Household Records)
Sharp Nine - Sudoku (The Real Thing Da/Staffan)
The Core - Office Essentials (Jazzland)
Open class:
Frode Haltli - Passing Images (ECM/Grappa)
Live Maria Roggen - Circuit Songs (Jazzland)
Pust - Femkant (Pust Records)
Shining - Grindstone (Rune Grammofon)
The Source - The Source Of Christmas - Live (Grappa Musikkforlag AS)
Best music video:
Dimmu Borgir - The Serpentine Offering (Nuclear Blast)
Heroes & Zeros - A Strange Constellation (Nightliner/Universal)
My Midnight Creeps - Don`t Let’Em Bring You Down (MMC Records)
Turbonegro - Do You Do You Dig Destruction (Scandinavian Leather Recordings)
WE - Hurdy Gurdy (Nun Music)
Best Newcomer:
Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance (Sony BMG)
Heroes & Zeros - Strange Constellations (Nightliner/Universal)
Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (MBN)
Tine Thing Helseth - Haydn/Hummel/Albinoni/Neruda (Simax Classics)
Valkyrien Allstars - Valkyrien Allstars (Heilo)
Best song:
Kurt Nilsen - "Push Push" (Sony BMG)
Madcon - "Beggin'" (Bonnier Music)
Postgirobygget - "Tidløs" (EMI Music Norway)
Sichelle - "Fuck Deg" (Eccentric Music)
Venke Knutson - "Holiday" (Universal)
Read more: http://www.spellemann.no/
For those that might be curious, my review of Friday's Trio Mediaeval performance has been posted in the comments section of last week's mp3 post: [click here]
FWIW, the New York Times has selected "Folk songs" as their #1 classical pick of the year: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007120315385557372396
As promised, today's featured track comes from Trio Mediaeval (or Trio Mediæval, if you like), a vocal ensemble with members from Norway and Sweden that specializes in early music, often infusing the style with modern arrangements and techniques. The group is currently on tour in support of their latest release on ECM, "Folk songs", a collection of exactly that - traditional Norwegian folk music - and I'll be seeing them tomorrow night at Town Hall in Seattle. I expect it to be a fairly subdued affair as the venue is an old church (really, the perfect place to see and hear this kind of music) and I doubt anyone will be jumping out of their pews to cause trouble. Definitely the kind of show where talking during the performance is simply not tolerated. Also, though their repertoire does include a few numbers with rowdier subject matter, I don't suspect they'll be anything like the boistrous Mediaeval Baebes. Even the addition of percussionist Birger Mistereggen, as on the recording, will do little to change that. Mistereggen's contributions are mostly subtle and very textural. A little jaw harp (as on today's featured track) or some light drumming, but that's about it. This is primarily spiritual music, apt for meditation and reflection, not dancing and drinking. Actually, one of the most exciting aspects of tomorrow's performance is the pre-show lecture. There's such rich history and strong craftmanship involved in this music, merely listening is not enough. So for now, enjoy the piece I've posted today and I'll be back this weekend with a full report.
Trio Mediaeval - Det lisle bånet
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Lars Winnerbäck - Innan mörkret faller
02. TALK 1
03. TIAC - Boredom
04. Brainbombs - Who can you trust
05. Ted Gärdestad - Helena
06. TALK 2
07. Björn Kleinhenz - China Blue
08. Viktor Sjöberg - The sensation of your head on my chest
09. Marvins Revolt - Deliberate deeds
10. TALK 3
11. Abalone Dots - Under the rain
12. The Bear Quartet - The lost kid office
13. Lo-Fi-Fnk - Wake up
14. Watain - Underneath the cenotaph
15. TALK 4
16. The Tiny - Closer
17. Supersilent - 8.4
18. Anna Ternheim - Today is a good day
19. TALK 5
20. The Skull Defekts - The secret
21. Lukestar - White shade
22. Pay TV - Fashion report
23. Wolfpack - Enter the gates
24. TALK 6
25. Tigerbombs - Shaking the tree
26. Familjen - Ivanhoe & Rebecca
27. Giant Robot - Public = shopping
28. Eskju Divine - Hold on
29. TALK 7
30. The Bell - On and on
31. DHG - The snuff dreams are made of
32. Trio Mediaeval - Det lisle bånet
33. TALK 8
34. Peter Bjorn and John - It beats me every time
35. Margaret Berger - Seek I'll hide
36. Kaizers Orchestra - Kontroll på kontinentet
37. TALK 9
38. Darkthrone - F.O.A.D.
Speaking of modern folk, look for the Trio Mediaeval's fourth album "Folk songs" to get a US release on October via ECM, just in time to mark their 10th anniversary. The Norwegian-Swedish trio has always included folk tunes in their repertoire, but I believe that this is the first time they've dedicated an entire recording to the subject. Look for them to tour Europe this fall with US dates around November/December.