MP3: Trio Mediaeval - Det lisle bånet
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