Aly Bain and Ale Möller
Ale Möller is one of Sweden's leading roots musicians, while Aly
Bain has paid plenty of Scottish dues over the years. What brings
them together is the common ground between Celtic and Nordic culture
that is to be found in the Shetland Isles, those bits of rock which,
along with Orkneys, dot the North Sea between Norway and Scotland.
What's quickly apparent however is that although the Shetlands might
officially be Scottish, their music is very much a cultural crossroads,
dating back to the Vikings settling them in the ninth century
Born
in Lerwick, a small town on the Shetland Islands, he began learning the
fiddle at the age of eleven, being tutored by Tom Anderson, one of the
true masters of Shetland music. Over the years he developed a unique
playing technique, becoming recognised for his highly dramatic style and
emotion.
Alert to the musical potential of dynamic interaction between Irish and
Scottish tradition, Aly helped establish Boys of the Lough – possibly
the most famous of traditional folk bands to date. In 1994, Aly was
awarded an M.B.E. in recognition of his services to music. He was
further honoured in 1999, receiving the degree of Doctor of Music from
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Ale
Möller
is a
master of many instruments who has found his way home to Swedish
traditional music by many devious routes. He is one of the major forces
in the search for new sounds and expressions of Nordic music.
His mastery of traditional Swedish folk instruments allows him to bring
new instruments to the old music with stunning results. While an octave
mandolin with frets added to play the quarter-tones common to the
Swedish tradition is these days his instrument of choice, the flutes,
harps and hammered dulcimer are usually within reaching distance.
"I
am always looking for a sound where one note tells a story. One must
find the right note, and play it." Ale Möller, 1997
See also:
Brian Gear & Violet Tulloch
The Cullivoe Fiddlers
| Wednesday July 14th Stadsteatern 19.30 |