This concert marks the end of a two-day celebration of Swedish folk music tradition at the Swedish Church in Melbourne.

Josefina Paulson (nyckelharpa) and the musicians who have participated in the workshops will perform the tunes they have learnt together over the two days. Tunes will include traditional and newly composed tunes rooted in the Swedish folk music tradition, including Västmanland and Southern Sweden.

The concert will also include the first performance of music created by Duo Bengtsson/Paulson (SWE) and Big Fiddle Little Fiddle (AUS). This collaboration brings Josefina Paulson (nyckelharpa) and Fredrik Bengtsson (double bass, mandola) together with Jessica Foot (violin, hardanger fiddle, oboe, cor anglais) and Louise Godwin (cello) to showcase a repertoire spanning Nordic music and original compositions created specifically for the Australian tour. The sounds of Scandinavia will intertwine with contemporary Australian influences to create a tapestry of sound that transcends borders.

Duo Bengtsson/Paulson (Sweden)

Frederik Bengtsson, a southern Swede with a double-bass, and Josefina Paulson, a nyckelharpist born and raised in Västmanland county in Sweden, meet in this duo to discover how they can challenge their given roles that comes with their instruments. Together, they take new roads with the melodies and tell the stories in a personal way. Duo Paulson/Bengtsson perform new composed music in traditional style, blending flavours of jazz, baroque, and drone music, and painting a picture of a dream and illusion. Mirroring the darkness and light of the seasons, each instrument leaves its traditional roles, taking turns to carry the melody and lead the dance.

Big Fiddle Little Fiddle (Australia)

Big Fiddle Little Fiddle (Jessica Foot, violin, hardingfele and Louise Godwin, cello) have been drinking tea and playing tunes for 10 years. They are heard at festivals and in venues and lounge-rooms playing a mix of original tunes, lots of music about their friends, plus Celtic, Scandi, and other vibes, and are often sighted energetically leading workshops at community music camps. Jess loves English tunes more than Lou. Lou loves dark tunes and mournful laments. "Cello tunes", she calls them. BFLF laugh and chatter and play raucous string arrangements. It’s a sort of gentle chaos, and their joy is infectious. They bring everyone along for the journey: people always leave gigs saying they’re going to unpack their instrument they haven’t played in ages.

SUPPORTERS:

This event is made possible through the generous support of the Swedish Church (Melbourne) and international travel funding through the Swedish Arts Council.

Contact the host of Duo Bengtsson/Paulson with Big Fiddle Little Fiddle