Past Concerts 2010
Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics
The first Thursday of the month July & August @ 7 pm
$10 ($8 ASF Members)
Out of Scandinavia is an on-going uniquely selected series of musical performances the first Thursday of each month, headlining a myriad of fresh Nordic musicians that features one-off and premiere performances. Through subtle and deft curating of disparate styles of music, Out of Scandinavia will satiate your craving for innovative and compelling new indie music from the Nordics.
Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics is made possible in part by the Consulate General of Denmark, New York; the Consulate General of Finland, New York; the Honorary Consulate General of Sweden, New York; Iceland Naturally; Music Export Finland; Music Export Norway, and Export Music Sweden.
Huntsville
July 1
Norwegian band Huntsville delves into an adventurous crossbreed of rock, drones, country, jazz and electro-acoustic improvisation featuring Ivar Grydeland (guitars, banjo, and pedal steel guitar), Tonny Kluften (electric bass, double bass, bass pedals) and Ingar Zach (percussion, tabla machine, sarangi box, sruti box, drone commander).
After their debut For The Middle Class (Rune Grammofon, 2006) Boston Weekly wrote, “armed with a banjo, a double bass, a pedal steel, a bizarre tabla machine, shruti boxes and a fondness for freeing folk from its folk songs — from Santa Fe to Bombay.”
Huntsville’s unexpected sounds and textures, allied with echoes of traditional genres in a radical new conceptual language have been described as abstract drone Americana and yoga country. Rock-A-Rolla (UK) wrote, “…they alternate between brief Americana-esque instrumentals and lengthier excursions into fast, fluid motion, attaining trance-velocity like some rare amalgam of Miles Davis, Steve Reich and early Tortoise.”
On their second album, the double release Eco, arches & eras (Rune Grammofon, 2008), they dig even deeper into their striking and original sound world – this time with riffing electric guitars, hard-hitting drums and their secret weapon: a drone commander. During the making of Eco, arches & eras, Norwegian singer Sidsel Endresen joined in on one track, while guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Glenn Kotche (both of Wilco) visited Huntsville on an hour-long track captured live in 2007.
Nordic Summer Jam
Thursdays in July (starting July 8), Doors 6:30 pm/Concert 7 pm
$10 ($8 ASF Members)
Experience an unforgettable taste of Scandinavian artists in concert in Volvo Hall while enjoying our outdoor garden terrace this summer. A favored alternative to the usual midtown “happy hour,” Nordic Summer Jam presents an eclectic selection of musicians and repertoires accompanied by refreshments by Smörgås Chef Restaurant @ Scandinavia House.
Double Bill:
Tom Hayes
Nick and Casey
July 8
Born and raised in Ireland, Tom Hayes has been making music since before he could talk. At the age of five he found an old guitar at home and wouldn't put it down. By the age of twelve was working as a professional guitarist for acclaimed Irish bands. He spent the next eight years touring at home and throughout Europe. Soon he began work on his own music, evoking the lyrical and musical styles of Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake. Trained in an ancient Irish style of A Capella singing known as Sean-Nos, Tom mixed together a blend of the contemporary and traditional, finding a unique sound, with its roots in rock and soul, as well as folk.
After living in London for some time, Tom moved to New York in 2005. He soon found a welcome home within the city's music scene, cultivating a dedicated following. In recent months he has collaborated with prolific artists and platinum-selling writers such as Boots Ottestad, Ryan Star, and Wynter Gordon. Tom has also begun work on his debut record set for release this fall. His unique voice and style have won him the praise of numerous press and musical greats such as Jimmy Webb. In a recent review, the New York Examiner had this to say: “With succulent melodies played under perforating lyrics and a voice that is almost a ghost of musicians past, Hayes produces a smooth tone in the vein of vintage soul. Raw talent as such cannot be hidden for long.”
Nick and Casey are singer/songwriters Casey Spindler and Nicholas Webber. Their recent work includes: scoring the Leaky Tent short film Goldstar, Ohio (Bill Irwin, Mercedes Ruehl, Michael Stuhlbarg and Alison Pill); licensing their song Man Of Obstacles to the upcoming CinemaLab/Mega/IFC film Falling Awake; and appearing on Fox Network's Fearless Music.
Nick and Casey recently finished their first, full length, studio album, Can't Reason Through Love, with Grammy-winning engineer and producer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan: Love and Theft, Modern Times; Lou Reed; Wilco; Jeff Buckley). The release is scheduled for fall of 2010.
They are currently backed by bassist Tim Luntzel (Bright Eyes, Rosanne Cash) and drummer Dan Rieser (Norah Jones, Marcy Playground).
Nick and Casey are based in Brooklyn and can be seen at The Living Room every third Sunday of the Month at 9 pm for the year of 2010.
Benedicte Maurseth
July 15
Norwegian Benedicte Maurseth performs both as a Hardanger fiddler and traditional vocalist. The old tunes from Hardanger form an important part of her repertoire. These are often lyrical and complex, and many of them have been preserved in their original form. She evokes a deep, warm tone in these fiddles by using gut strings and a baroque bow.
Maurseth holds a degree from the Ole Bull Academy. She learned to play the Hardanger fiddle mainly from master fiddler Knut Hamre, but also studied with Stein Versto and Leif Rygg. In the past few years she has also studied with baroque musicians such as Bjarte Eike and Peter Spissky. Maurseth collaborates with a number of musicians who work in various genres, especially at the point of intersection of folk and baroque music, as well as with more improvised music and new music.
In 2006 she and Hamre released the album Rosa i botnen, which could be said to have introduced the concept of “early fiddle tunes.” Because she has used the old style of fiddling, the earliest tunes have regained a dimension that had gone missing long ago. In 2007 Maurseth received the Young Folk Musician of the Year award, INTRO-Folk (Concerts Norway's competition for launching new talent).
Amalie Bruun
July 22
Amalie Bruun is a 24 year-old Danish award-winning singer/songwriter. Singing on the streets of Berlin, Barcelona and Paris, Bruun also worked as a professional songwriter in Sweden - the “pop capital” of Scandinavia - providing material for the Swedish winner of Idols.
Presently a resident New Yorker, Bruun works on her career as a solo-artist and her talent has by no means been kept under wraps: MTV U.S. are eager to blog about her, the debut-EP Housecat spawned much interest among U.S. major labels and she recently played live on the Fox TV show Fearless Music. She has rapidly become part of the higher echelons of the New York music scene and her songs have been licensed for TV shows, commercials and movies.
The music of Bruun is somewhat akin to the chilly, dramatic pop songs of Tori Amos, but with an urban attitude and a ragged coolness that is reminiscent of smoke-filled alleyways, run-down rock clubs and of 60s icons like Nico and Francoise Hardy. She plays the glockenspiel, guitar and piano with clear, yet forceful vocals, unmistakable ear for catchy melodies and adventurous take on style and arrangement, playing everything from chair to coffee beans.
The brand-new single Branches was just released through the young Copenhagen-based indie pop label EasyTiger.
Naja Rosa Koppel
July 29
A child of music, Danish songstress Naja Rosa Koppel was born into a family of many songs and stories. Her mother and father, Annisette and Thomas Koppel, lead members and founders of the legendary Danish rock group The Savage Rose took her on the road before she was even born. Growing up in the south harbor of Copenhagen, Koppel was singing and writing songs from an early age and went on to sing background vocals in her parents’ group for almost a decade. As a part of The Savage Rose she also landed two of her own compositions on their 2008 Danish Music Award-nominated release, Universal Daughter and wrapped a European tour with the band in the fall of 2008.
In 2009 Koppel finished her debut album, NAJA ROSA, with all songs written and composed by her, in a little analog Copenhagen studio. The record was mixed by renowned producer Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Nada Surf, Apples in Stereo) at his Trout Studio in Brooklyn.
The sound may be reminiscent of beatnik rock and blues from the 50s through the 70s, but there is also a great depth to the album’s sound. Similar to the moodiness of a Tarantino soundtrack, Koppel’s vocals are deep, soulful and pure. Full of life and often with a wink of humor, her strong, melodic songs can take you from a rocking Saturday night to a bluesy Sunday afternoon.
APAP 2010 - Northern Realms Music Showcase
Monday, January 11, 2010
First set: 2-5 pm
Second set: 7-11 pm
FREE but reservations are required: 212.847.9740
event_reservation@amscan.org
Some of the most exciting and talented folk music performers from around the world descend upon New York this January for the annual Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference. Scandinavia House will host some of the best artists from the Northern regions in Victor Borge Hall as an APAP highlight, featuring performers from Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland and Quebec.
Niklas Sivelöv
2:00-2:20 pm & 7:00-7:20 pm
Leading Scandinavian pianist. An improviser and composer, he has been called the Renoir of the piano. Multiple award winner: Le Diapason D’or, the Independent Music Award, Vox populi. Exclusive Hamburg Steinway Artist and recently selected as the first Swedish pianist ever in their Hall of Fame.
http://www.niklassivelov.com
http://www.myspace.com/sivelov
the peärls before swïne experience
2:30-2:50 pm & 7:30-7:50 pm
Truly a remarkable and unforgettable Contemporary Classical ensemble. They perform pithy, 5-minute works written directly for them by some of the most important living composers from Sweden and abroad. Their relaxed and direct performances transform new music concerts into eminently enjoyable and accessible events.
http://www.swinepearl.com
Le Vent du Nord
3:00-3:20 pm & 8:00-8:20 pm
One of Québec’s finest traditional ensembles combining bouncing, rhythmic fiddle styles, unique tunes, spirited step dancing and ancient songs of Québec’s rich musical heritage. First recording received a JUNO (Canadian Grammy) and second awarded a FELIX Award for Traditional Album. Multiple instruments including hurdy-gurdy.
http://www.leventdunord.com
http://www.myspace.com/leventdunord
Sofia Jannok
3:30-3:50 pm & 8:30-8:50 pm
Passion and contrast define Sofia’s music. The passion and warmth in her clear, powerful voice artfully express the contrast between her indigenous Sami background and her creative cosmopolitanism. Sofia draws inspiration from wide open spaces, people, and the pulse and colours of the city.
http://www.sofiajannok.com
http://www.myspace.com/sofiajannok
Nuala Kennedy
4:00-4:20 pm & 9:00-9:20 pm
A mix of traditional Scottish and Irish songs sung with clarity and passion and a highly interactive live performance. This singer-flautist performs with esteemed musical collaborators, in a naturally expressive, spontaneous and engaging way. Nuala just released her second solo album, ‘Tune In’, on Compass Records.
http://www.nualakennedy.com
http://www.myspace.com/nualakennedy
Mats Öberg & Jonas Knutsson
4:30-4:50 pm & 9:30-9:50 pm
Traditional Swedish music combined with Contemporary Jazz and World. Öberg is an acclaimed, exceptionally versatile, keyboard genius possessing knock-out powers of expression. Knutsson is a bright saxophone star, equally at home in Jazz, folk and improvisation. Friends since childhood, their musical connections run deep.
http://tinyurl.com/yjmds2n
The Nordic Fiddler’s Bloc
5:00-5:20 pm & 10:00-10:20 pm
Three of the top young fiddlers to emerge on the respective folk music scenes of Sweden, Norway and Shetland Islands. First meeting through informal "sessions", they developed a deep admiration for each other’s playing and traditions and were inspired to collaborate. The result surpassed expectations…
http://www.myspace.com/thenordicfiddlersbloc
Presented with support by Délégation générale du Québec, Honorary Consulate of Sweden, New York, On Queue Performing Artists , Scottish Arts Council, and Rikskonserter / Concerts Sweden.
A Musical Visit from Scandinavia: Copenhagen Chamber Ensemble
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7 pm
$15 ($10 ASF members)
Reflecting a refined combination of tradition and versatility, the Copenhagen Chamber Ensemble specializes in chamber, traditional, and new music. The group’s members come from diverse musical backgrounds and hold numerous solo positions in leading Danish professional orchestras such as The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1978, the ensemble will perform works by Swedish composer Lillebror Söderlundh and Danish composers Erik Norby and John von Daler. Mixing old and new, classical baroque pieces by Vivaldi, Bach, Telemann, and Handel will be presented along with the contemporary pieces.
A Musical Visit from Scandinavia is co-presented with the Danish American Society.
New York Scandia Symphony
Thursday, February 11, 8 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members; FREE to students with a valid ID)
Dorrit Matson, Music Director and Conductor, leads the New York Scandia Symphony in a CONCERTO PROGRAM featuring three soloists: Bjarke Mogensen, accordionist in the US premiere of Concerto Piccolo for Accordion Solo and Strings by Anders Koppel. Lisa Hansen, flutist, in the Baroque Concerto for Flute and Strings by Johan Helmich Roman; and Frank Foerster, violist, in his own Suite of Scandinavian Folk Melodies for Viola and String Orchestra. Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen will be featured on this program, as well as Danish composer Poul Schierbeck , who will be celebrated with a US premiere of his composition I Danmark er jeg fodt and Largo for String Orchestra.
For over twenty years New York Scandia Symphony has delighted New York City listeners with its warm and vibrant tone, a lovely clarity of expressive detail as well as interesting and exciting programs. It has a valuable mission to present imaginative and creative multicultural programs of music by classical, romantic and contemporary Scandinavian composers, introducing previously unknown and seldom performed compositions to American audiences. With up to 90% of its repertoire presented as US premieres, the orchestra revives and preserves the works of significant classical composers that might not otherwise have been brought to the attention of the American public.
Sponsored by The Royal Danish Academy of Music.
NYNDK
The Hunting of the Snark CD Release
Saturday, February 20, 7:30 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members; FREE to students with a valid ID)
Transatlantic jazz collective NYNDK returns to the scene with The Hunting of the Snark – an album that sets (mostly) modern 20th century classical composers’ works to post-modern jazz music. As such, listeners are treated to engaging versions of Charles Ives’ The Cage, 1,2,3, and Remembrance, Edvard Grieg’s Adagio (from Piano Concerto in A Minor), a Per Norgard serial composition – Voyage Into the Golden Screen and several others, including the title track by Arne Nordheim and pieces composed by members of the group and named after each of the composers whose work has been utilized. Guest drummer Tony Moreno also makes an appearance with the collective.
Does the use of these composers’ work really fit in with modern jazz? The answer is a resounding yes, as the arrangement of these works are mind-bending, multi-layered and offer an introduction into some interesting compositions while also engaging the senses in the present. The Hunting of the Snark is yet another revolutionary recording from NYNDK that takes chances, and cements their status as some of the most innovative jazz artists working today.
NYNDK brings together musicians from New York (NY), Norway (N), and Denmark (DK), uniting three places that have significant roles in jazz history. Established in 2003, its founding members are Danish pianist Søren Møller, Norwegian saxophonist Ole Mathisen, and New York trombonist Chris Washburne. Their decision to form this collaborative was inspired by their own experiences of the truly international nature of jazz. Jazz has become a global phenomenon and NYNDK embodies this development, bringing to the mix a combination of refined Scandinavian cool with aggressive New York heat, spiced with a progressive post-modern sensibility.
Presented in conjunction with the Consulate General of Denmark, New York and the Danish Arts Agency’s DaNY Arts.
The Music of Schumann & Gade
Presented by Mannes College: The New School for Music
Thursday, March 25, 7 pm
FREE, no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served
This concert is a special presentation by the Mannes College Piano and Voice Departments, exploring the music of Robert Schumann and Niels Gade, featuring such pieces as Schumann’s Arabesque in C major for piano, op. 18 and Gade’s Violin Sonata. Since 1999, Mannes College of Music has presented a series of year-long music festivals, each with a different unifying theme featuring gifted young artists, distinguished faculty, and renowned guests.
Nordic Sounds, Latin Flavor
Friday, April 23, 7:00 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members; FREE to students with a valid ID)
Swedish guitarist Celia Linde is acclaimed for her personal style, her captivating temperament and for her wide range of musical interpretations. Linde will perform her unique variations of music from Swedish folk tunes, contemporary Latin American and Spanish music, to her own classical compositions. Touring frequently throughout Europe, the U.S., Canada, Finland, Scandinavia, Russia, and Turkey, she is often the featured artist on National Swedish Radio-Television and has also been profiled on the BBC, Denmark’s Radio, Turkish Radio-Television (TRT) and New York’s WNYC and other international radio stations.
Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics
April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1 & August 5, all sets begin @ 7 pm
$10 ($8 ASF Members)
Scandinavian music is having a moment. Sigur Rós, Björk, Fever Ray, Lykke Li, Peter, Bjorn and John, The Raveonettes, Mew, Annie, Sondre Lerche. These are just a sampling of the current Nordic heavyweights on the indie charts, but the next wave of Nordic bands is upon us. Renowned in their homelands and on the cusp of breaking through in the U.S. these fervent musicians will undoubtedly join the chart-topping ranks of their established peers. They may have disparate styles, but what connects them is a love of sound, an artistry of live performance, and above all, a devotion to invading your listening space.
Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics is a uniquely selected series of musical performances the first Thursday of the month from April through August, headlining a myriad of fresh Nordic musicians that features one-off and premiere performances. Through subtle and deft curating of distinctly different styles of music, Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics will satiate your craving for innovative and compelling new indie rock from the Nordics.
Out of Scandinavia: New Indie Music from the Nordics is made possible in part by the Consulate General of Denmark, New York; the Consulate General of Finland, New York; the Honorary Consulate General of Sweden, New York; Iceland Naturally; Music Export Finland; Music Export Norway, and Export Music Sweden.
Hanne Hukkelberg
Thursday, April 1, 7 pm
Norwegian singer-songwriter Hanne Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments as a child in her home town of Kongsberg, Norway at the age of 3 and later played in various jazz, pop and rock groups as well as a doom metal band. A graduate of the Norwegian Academy of Music, she has gained a reputation as a powerful live performer.
Blood from a Stone is Hukkelberg’s third album. In part inspired by her past as a member of various rock and metal bands (especially their live incarnations) and in part by her 80 indie/rock albums, Hanne acknowledges that the likes of Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, Pixies, Einstüerzende Neubauten and P.J. Harvey have all exerted an influence over her new songs, while one can also detect traces of Siouxsie & The Banshees at their most oblique and many other new wave/post punk outfits.
Samuli Putro
Thursday, May 6, 7 pm
$10 ($8 ASF Members)
Samuli Putro, the longtime front-man of the Finnish rock band Zen Café, with whom he experienced years of chart-topping success, is a singer/songwriter who made his blockbuster solo album debut in 2009.
Born on August 21, 1970, in Helsinki, he co-founded Zen Café in 1992. The band includes Kari Nylander (bass) and Pete Parkkonen (drums), in addition to Putro (vocals, guitar). Zen Café made their album debut in 1997 with Romuna. Subsequent albums include Idiootti (1998), Ua Ua (1999), and Helvetisti Järkeä (2001). Zen Café then hit number one with each of their next three albums, Helvetisti Järkeä (2001), Vuokralainen (2002), and Jättiläinen (2003); moreover, these albums include the Top Ten hit singles Aamuisin, Piha Ilman Sadettajaa, and Tavallaan Jokainen On Surullinen. The latter-day albums Laiska, Tyhmä Ja Saamaton (2005) and Stop (2006) were similarly successful, hitting number two and one, respectively.
Well known for his longtime frontman status in Zen Café, Putro made his blockbuster solo album debut in 2009 with Elämä On Juhla. Yet another in a long line of chart-topping albums for Putro, Elämä On Juhla includes the singles Elämä On Juhla, Älä Huuda Mulle, and Mitäpä Jos.
Huntsville
July 1
Norwegian band Huntsville delves into an adventurous crossbreed of rock, drones, country, jazz and electro-acoustic improvisation featuring Ivar Grydeland (guitars, banjo, and pedal steel guitar), Tonny Kluften (electric bass, double bass, bass pedals) and Ingar Zach (percussion, tabla machine, sarangi box, sruti box, drone commander).
After their debut For The Middle Class (Rune Grammofon, 2006) Boston Weekly wrote, “armed with a banjo, a double bass, a pedal steel, a bizarre tabla machine, shruti boxes and a fondness for freeing folk from its folk songs — from Santa Fe to Bombay.”
Huntsville’s unexpected sounds and textures, allied with echoes of traditional genres in a radical new conceptual language have been described as abstract drone Americana and yoga country. Rock-A-Rolla (UK) wrote, “…they alternate between brief Americana-esque instrumentals and lengthier excursions into fast, fluid motion, attaining trance-velocity like some rare amalgam of Miles Davis, Steve Reich and early Tortoise.”
On their second album, the double release Eco, arches & eras (Rune Grammofon, 2008), they dig even deeper into their striking and original sound world – this time with riffing electric guitars, hard-hitting drums and their secret weapon: a drone commander. During the making of Eco, arches & eras, Norwegian singer Sidsel Endresen joined in on one track, while guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Glenn Kotche (both of Wilco) visited Huntsville on an hour-long track captured live in 2007.
Jaerv & Thinguma*jigSaw
Tuesday, April 13, 7 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members)
Jaerv on myspace
Thinguma*jigSaw on myspace
Scandinavian folk music today isn’t what it once was. With urbanization and modern innovations such as TV, radio, records, and CDs, traditional music faded in the 20th century. The folk music scene has reemerged and today is revitalized and diverse, splitting roughly into two areas: acoustic and electric, with experimentation of varying degrees happening at both ends of the spectrum. Occasionally avant-garde, but consistently accessible, one can still hear the traditional Nordic folk styles woven into the richly-textured musical tapestries of these innovative musicians.
Jaerv is a Swedish quintet, playing extroverted, vigorous, and heartfelt folk music with influences from both jazz and pop music. Together, the five members have created a homogeneous, vivid sound that has, over a short period of time, established the group on the folk music scene as well as in many other forums. Rooted in several different musical traditions, Jaerv offers a varied stage performance where vocal, five-voiced tunes blend in with energetic dances and free improvisations. Their concerts have been broadcast, both on Swedish national radio and abroad and the band has toured extensively over the last three years.
Thinguma*jigSaw is a Norwegian duo playing what they call “splatter-folk” on banjo, musical saw, flute, melodica, and vocals. Their music is influenced by British folk, Appalachian ballads, art/cult/horror-films, and the literary musings of Samuel Beckett, Edgar Allan Poe and James Joyce. Thinguma*jigSaw has existed for two years, released their album (awakeinwhitechapel) on the Irish cred-label Deserted Village, and has toured extensively in Europe and the U.S., doing gigs together with the Tiger Lillies, Meg Baird, Samara Lubelski and Castanets, among others. Thinguma*jigSaw has rapidly become a highly beloved live-phenomenon, stunning audiences wherever they play: Time Out London ranked them as one of 2008’s live highlights, next to Bon Iver, and New York Post described their live-performance as “deeply unsettling, yet strangely comforting.”
Keyboard Conversations® with Pianist Jeffrey Siegel: Concerts with Commentary
Internationally-acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to Scandinavia House for his third season at Victor Borge Hall. Beginning each evening with commentary on the music and its composers, Keyboard Conversations offers a full performance of each of the works, and ends with a short and lively question and answer session. The accessible and inviting performance format enriches audience understanding of classical music, for both the newcomer and seasoned listener alike. Each concert is followed by a reception.
Musical Pictures
Thursday, April 15, 2010, 7:30 pm
This concert features picturesque music inspired by visual stimuli: Rachmaninoff's festive Etude Tableaux in E Flat, Opus 33, Debussy's colorful Fireworks, the beloved Rustles of Spring by the Norwegian composer Christian Sinding, the evocative May Night by Finland's Selim Palmgren, and the famous and fascinating Pictures at an Exhibition by the Russian master Modeste Mussorgsky. A “Getting Behind the Pictures” discussion will make listening to this popular work even more rewarding.
The Scandia String Quartet
Thursday, May 13, 8 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members; FREE to students with a valid ID)
Founded in 2005 and the initiative of the four principal string players of the New York Scandia Symphony, the Scandia String Quartet will perform a vibrant selection of quartets by Grieg, Sibelius, Weyse, Nielsen, and Langgaard. Since its inception, the quartet has been the solid foundation of the Scandinavian Music Festival held in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan in June. Like the Scandia Symphony, the Scandia String Quartet is dedicated to performing and recording music of the Scandinavian countries and composers, introducing previously unknown and seldom performed compositions to American audiences.
The quartet has undertaken several premieres of works by living composers from Scandinavia and of music relating to Scandinavia. The Scandia String Quartet has appeared at a number of concerts and events and has collaborated with soloists and composers of Scandinavian descent, as well as with other members of the New York Scandia Symphony.
ADDED CONCERT!
The Iceland String Quartet
Friday, May 14, 8 pm
$15 ($10 ASF Members; FREE to students with a valid ID)
The principles of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Sigrún Eðvaldsdóttir, Sif Tulinius, Helga Þórarinsdóttir, and Bryndís Halla Gylfadóttir are all central players in Reykjavík's lively music scene. The quartet makes its first appearance at Scandinavia House this May to perform a string quartet by Johannes Brahms, Antonín Dvořák's American quartet, a new piece by Icelandic composer Þorður Magnússon, as well as a selection of Icelandic songs.
Nordic Midsummer Celebration
with CALLmeKAT, Samuel Hällkvist & Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir
Monday, June 21, Doors 6:30 pm/Concert 7 pm
$15 ($12 ASF Members)
Midsummer, also known as the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year, but Scandinavians know it as “the day that never ends.” It is also a day of non-stop celebration extolling the Sun’s path around the earth. Join us for our annual Nordic Midsummer Celebration, featuring music from Copenhagen-based musician CALLmeKAT, Swedish guitarist Samuel Hällkvist, and Icelandic cellist and former ASF Fellow Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir.
CALLmeKAT
Copenhagen-based musician CALLmeKat (Katrine Ottosen) is known for her distinctly Scandinavian sound: melancholic, dreamy pop. Written, performed, recorded and produced by Ottosen herself, the warmly-received I’m In A Polaroid – Where Are You EP (2008) combined sounds from sampler keyboards, home-brewed percussion, vinyl samples, birds, Dictaphone and vocal recordings, mixed and mastered by Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurðsson (Björk, Múm, Sigur Rós). In November 2008 Ottosen released her full-length debut Fall Down on her own label Pixiebooth, in collaboration with Playground Music.
In 2009 CALLmeKAT played numerous critically-acclaimed shows, received an Underground Music Award for “Best Alternative Act,” and was granted one of the Danish Art Council’s prestigious grants for young, talented artists with international ambition and potential.
Based in New York since early 2010, she is collaborating with Joe Magistro (Prophet Omega) on her international debut When Owls Are Out, which will consist of reworked and remixed material from Fall Down. She also made an appearance at the 2010 SxSW Festival, where she was featured live on NPR’s All Things Considered. As of late she has appeared on both Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton’s (NPR) “Who We Liked-list” from this year’s SxSW with the words “Outstanding voice, delicate music” and “Just mesmerizing.”
Samuel Hällkvist
Samuel Hällkvist is a Swedish guitar player living in Copenhagen, Denmark. With hints of jazz, country, metal, and noise Hällkvist’s music is an expression of a boundless world. A world where extremely different genres, geographic variety and, above all, the unexpected meet without restrictions and are conveyed with sincerity, passion and brilliant technique.
Born in the province of Dalarna, in the village of Gustafs, Hällkvist grew up with hard rock and metal influences; however a chance encounter with a jazz record changed his life. He started playing the guitar and was admitted to the jazz program at Skurup’s folk high-school, and eventually completed his studies at the Malmö Academy of Music.
In 2010 Hällkvist was appointed Jazz in Sweden-artist 2010, a prestigious award that Caprice Records and Concerts Sweden have given annually since 1972, comprising an album release, a launch, and a tour in Sweden and abroad during 2010. Today, Hällkvist lives in Copenhagen and plays with bands such as Television Pickup, Rhododendron String Band and 15,5, while focusing on the new group Samuel Hällkvist Center and the launch of their first album.
Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir
Praised as “charismatic” in The New York Times, Icelandic cellist and former ASF Fellow Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir has appeared as a recitalist and chamber musician across the U.S., Germany, France, Poland, Italy and her native Iceland. Þorsteinsdóttir has garnered numerous top prizes, including most recently the Zara Nelsova Prize in the 2008 Naumburg International Violoncello Competition in New York.
An avid chamber musician, Þorsteinsdóttir has collaborated in performance with Itzhak Perlman, Kim Kashkashian, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players and the Cavani String Quartet in venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her collaborative performances have been also been featured on WQXR New York as well as Icelandic National Radio. Also an advocate of new music Þorsteinsdóttir has premiered dozen of works and frequently performs at venues in New York such as The Stone and Le Poisson Rouge. Along with the masterpieces of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Þorsteinsdóttir is constantly inspired by contemporary works.
Þorsteinsdóttir received a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music with the highest honors of accomplishments in both cello and chamber music. She continued studies at The Juilliard School, completing a Master of Music degree in 2008. A native of Reykjavík, Iceland, Þorsteinsdóttir now lives in New York City. She plays on a cello made in Milan, Italy circa 1790.
Nordic Summer Jam
Thursdays in July (starting July 8), Doors 6:30 pm/Concert 7 pm
$10 ($8 ASF Members)
Experience an unforgettable taste of Scandinavian artists in concert in Volvo Hall while enjoying our outdoor garden terrace this summer. A favored alternative to the usual midtown “happy hour,” Nordic Summer Jam presents an eclectic selection of musicians and repertoires accompanied by refreshments by Smörgås Chef Restaurant @ Scandinavia House.
Tom Hayes & NICKCASEY
July 8
Born and raised in Ireland, Tom Hayes has been making music since before he could talk. At the age of five he found an old guitar at home and wouldn't put it down. By the age of twelve was working as a professional guitarist for acclaimed Irish bands. He spent the next eight years touring at home and throughout Europe. Soon he began work on his own music, evoking the lyrical and musical styles of Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake. Trained in an ancient Irish style of A Capella singing known as Sean-Nos, Tom mixed together a blend of the contemporary and traditional, finding a unique sound, with its roots in rock and soul, as well as folk.
After living in London for some time, Tom moved to New York in 2005. He soon found a welcome home within the city's music scene, cultivating a dedicated following. In recent months he has collaborated with prolific artists and platinum-selling writers such as Boots Ottestad, Ryan Star, and Wynter Gordon. Tom has also begun work on his debut record set for release this fall. His unique voice and style have won him the praise of numerous press and musical greats such as Jimmy Webb. In a recent review, the New York Examiner had this to say: “With succulent melodies played under perforating lyrics and a voice that is almost a ghost of musicians past, Hayes produces a smooth tone in the vein of vintage soul. Raw talent as such cannot be hidden for long.”
Nick and Casey are singer/songwriters Casey Spindler and Nicholas Webber. Their recent work includes: scoring the Leaky Tent short film Goldstar, Ohio (Bill Irwin, Mercedes Ruehl, Michael Stuhlbarg and Alison Pill); licensing their song Man Of Obstacles to the upcoming CinemaLab/Mega/IFC film Falling Awake; and appearing on Fox Network's Fearless Music.
Nick and Casey recently finished their first, full length, studio album, Can't Reason Through Love, with Grammy-winning engineer and producer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan: Love and Theft, Modern Times; Lou Reed; Wilco; Jeff Buckley). The release is scheduled for fall of 2010.
They are currently backed by bassist Tim Luntzel (Bright Eyes, Rosanne Cash) and drummer Dan Rieser (Norah Jones, Marcy Playground).
Nick and Casey are based in Brooklyn and can be seen at The Living Room every third Sunday of the Month at 9 pm for the year of 2010.
Past Concerts 2009
Summer Jazz 2009
As the Manhattan skyline slips into magic hour, sip a sumptuous cocktail while enjoying an intimate concert held on Scandinavia House’s garden terrace. A favored alternative to the usual midtown “happy hour,” Jazz House presents an eclectic selection of Nordic ensembles and repertoires accompanied by refreshments from Smörgås Chef’s terrace cocktail bar.
Schedule:
July 9, 2009 - TESLA (Sweden)
Tesla is a trio of three highly acclaimed Swedish instrumentalists: Staffan Svensson, trumpet, Owe Almgren, bass and Ebba Westerberg, percussion. Ebba Westerberg draws on a mixture of Scandinavian folk melodies, African rhythms, as well as contemporary music. The collectively improvised work takes the music in many directions, feeling both intimate and groovy.
http://www.myspace.com/ebbawesterbergtesla
July 16, 2009 - Jostein Gulbrandsen (Norway)
Jostein Gulbrandsen grew up in Norway and started playing the guitar at the age of nine. His first CD as a band leader was released to critical acclaim in both Norway and the U.S. Using a mixture of electric, acoustic and fretless guitars, his music melds both American elements of jazz and reflects his Nordic roots.
http://www.myspace.com/josteing
July 23, 2009 - Björn Thoroddsen (Iceland)
Recently awarded the Icelandic Music Award for Jazz Performer of The Year in 2003, Björn Thoroddsen adds layers of enrichment to his compositions with his innovative guitar playing. His new melodic arrangements cover a wide range of sounds and moods, from haunting to playful.
http://www.bjornthoroddsen.is/
July 30, 2009 - Tine Bruhn (Denmark)
Jazz vocalist Tine Bruhn moved to New York City in 2001 after having graduated from Berklee College of Music. In NYC she has made quite an impression with steady concerts at Zinc Bar - one of the city's major jazz gems - and with the recent release of her debut CD “Entranced”. She performs jazz with R&B elements and the brilliant rhythm section consists of Daniela Schächter (piano), Oleg Osenkov (bass) and EJ Strickland (drums).
http://www.tinebruhn.com/live/
Biogen
Friday, October 9, 2009
The concert was preceded by the screening of Electronica Reykjavík/Rafmögnuð Reykjavík.
Pushing the limits of expression and identifying with specific (at times obscure or experimental) musical genres, Biogen has been a defining influence on the Icelandic electronic music scene since the early 1990s, first as a member of hardcore breakbeat outfit Ajax and later as Biogen and Babel. Biogen was a founding member of the Thule record label and has produced remixes for Múm and Sigur Rós.
http://www.myspace.com/biogenmusic
Scandinavia Rocks: A Family Concert with Adam Heldring and The River Phoenix
Friday, October 23, 4 pm
FREE. All ages.
Scandinavian music acts unite in exclusive acoustic family concert at Scandinavia House. The River Phoenix from Bornholm, Denmark and Adam Heldring from Eskilstuna, Sweden connected and found that they both were dreaming of going to New York in the end of October for the annual CMJ Music Marathon.
The two acts want to cross the Scandinavian boundaries between Sweden and Denmark as well as the different music genres and bring this package to a new audience – the kids of New York. Combining forces and overlapping each other musically, they strip the music down to soft, acoustic sets to be performed for families and children of all ages.
For more information and free music downloads:
Adam Heldring - Needed To Break Down [mp3 for free posting]
http://www.saturdayenterprise.com/secret/mp3/adam_heldring-needed_to_break_down.mp3
Web: www.adamheldring.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/adamheldring
Official CMJ show: Oct 20, 9:30pm, Googie’s Lounge
The River Phoenix - 5 Wheel Drive [mp3 for free posting]
http://www.fanatic.se/saturday/the_river_phoenix-wheel_drive.mp3
Web: www.theriverphoenix.dk
Myspace: www.myspace.com/theriverphoenixband
Official CMJ show: Oct 23, 10pm, Wicked Willy’s
Keyboard Conversations® with Pianist Jeffrey Siegel: Concerts with Commentary
Internationally-acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to Scandinavia House for his third season at Victor Borge Hall. Beginning each evening with commentary on the music and its composers, Keyboard Conversations offers a full performance of each of the works, and ends with a short and lively question and answer session. The accessible and inviting performance format enriches audience understanding of classical music, for both the newcomer and seasoned listener alike. Each concert is followed by a reception.
Chopin for Lovers
Thursday, November 12, 7:30 pm
This season the musical world will be celebrating the 200th birthday of Frédéric Chopin, one of the most romantic figures in music history. Chopin wrote almost exclusively for the solo piano and Mr. Siegel will discuss and perform some of Chopin's most beloved compositions, each inspired by a different woman in the composer's life. The program will include the vivacious Waltz in E Flat, the poetic Larghetto from the Second Piano Concerto, four of the dynamic Preludes from Opus 28, the Minute and Farewell waltzes, and the tempestuous Scherzo No. 3. Bring a significant other and enrich your lives with some of the most inspired romantic music ever written.
Northern Lights
Thursday, January 21, 2010, 7:30 pm
This concert brings you music from composers of the far North. Siegel performs Johannes Brahms’ fiery Allegro Maestoso from his early Piano Sonata No. 3, as well as the brooding and reflective Intermezzi, which was written toward the end of the composer's life. The piano music of Sibelius is little known and rarely played – the Finnish composer’s charming Snapdragon and the passionate Romance will be welcome musical discoveries. The Danish master Carl Nielsen wrote magnificent short pieces for the piano, such as the Spinning Top, as well as the charming Humoreske Bagatelles. To conclude there will be the Evening in the Mountains, Summer Evening, and the glorious, rousing Norwegian Dances of Edvard Grieg.
Hammerfall!
A Concert of New Danish Music and Stockhausen’s Kontakte
Friday, November 20, 7 pm
$15 ($10 ASF members)
This concert presents the music of Danish composer Niels Rønsholdt, a leading voice in the new generation of Scandinavian composers, performed by violinist Ethan Wood, saxophonist Zach Herchen, pianist Stephen Drury and percussionist Mathias Reumert. In Rønsholdt‘s works live musicians, electronics, video, and elements of theatre are mixed in a highly original and sometimes explosive cocktail. In addition to the works of Rønsholdt, percussionist Mathias Reumert and Stephen Drury perform Karlheinz Stockhausen’s masterpiece for piano, percussion, and 4-channel tape, Kontakte.
Sponsored by the Danish Arts Agency’s DaNY Arts.
A Family Lucia
Saturday, December 5, 1 pm
$10 ($8 ASF members), ages 5+
Get into the holiday spirit with the classic tale of light, hope, and inspiration at Scandinavia House’s annual Family Lucia program. Swedish singer Eva Engman tells the story of Lucia, the third-century saint. On the dark days of the year Lucia is portrayed in a white robe with a crown of candles symbolizing the light that will return after the long, dark Nordic winter. Children and adults alike will enjoy Saint Lucia’s story and the magical music performed by the children’s choir.
Annual Holiday Concert
Featuring ensemble with members from The Scandinavian Chamber Orchestra of New York
Sunday, December 13, 4 pm
$25 ($15 ASF members)
The Scandinavian Chamber Orchestra of New York returned to Scandinavia House for its annual holiday concert. Led by its founders Per Tengstrand and Magnus Martensson, SCO performed classical works along with traditional Scandinavian Christmas music in a special concert that celebrated the magic of the holidays in Scandinavia.