The Squid's Ear Magazine


Hellgren, My / Peter Soderberg: Plucked and Bowed (FRIM Records)

The literal album title belies the subtle interplay between Swedish improvisers, cellist My Hellgren and Peter Söderberg, the latter known for his work on classical lute but here on guitar, oud and theorbo (a long-necked lute that adds additional bass notes), recording an extended, warmly beautiful and intricate acoustic dialog of gentle tension and masterful skill.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



My Hellgren-cello

Peter Soderberg-guitar, theorbo, oud


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UPC: 7320470256664

Label: FRIM Records
Catalog ID: FRIM2CD
Squidco Product Code: 31760

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Sweden
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Fylkingen, in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 11th, 2021, by Goran Stegborn.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The second release of the Stockholm-based association FRIM (The Association for Free Improvised Music) captures the first-ever live-on-stage meeting of the duo of cellist My Hellgren and Peter Söderberg, who plays the theorbo, guitar and oud, at Fylkingen in Stockholm in February 2021. Hellgren is a Gothenburg-based musician, focusing on solo and chamber music, and premiered several solo and chamber music works, often in close collaboration with the composers. Söderberg has a background as a guitarist in modern jazz and free improvised music, and as a lute player, he has specialized in both renaissance and contemporary music, as well as employing his historical instruments in free improvisations.

The title of this meeting, Plucked and Bowed, captures best the spirit of this 47-minute set of acoustic, free improvised music. This improvisation begins with gentle and attentive searches for the right dynamics but soon enough Hellgren and Söderberg began to sketch subtle, mysterious melodic veins that sound timeless and exotic. Later on, Hellgren and Söderberg's array of extended techniques - yes, of plucking and bowing - enriches the patient and introspective dynamics, often add percussive qualities to the string instruments and charges the meeting with healthy tension.

Patiently, Hellgren and Söderberg explore more sonic aspects of the art of the moment, shifting and alternating between beautiful, folk-like melodic threads, adventurous and inventive sonic games and brief, enigmatic drones, always with impressive focus. This meeting ends with a Middle-Eastern, lyrical folk melody, articulated by Söderberg on the oud, and abstracted beautifully by Hellgren, solidifying the profound affinity both musicians established throughout this improvisation."-Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts


Get additional information at Salt Peanuts

Artist Biographies

"My Hellgren lives in Göteborg, Sweden, and works as a cellist in many different contexts. She is mostly active in the scene of contemporary music and is a member of Curious chamber players, ensemble Mimitabu and the text/sound trio MonoMono.

She is occasionally working with other ensembles like Gageego! and Scenatet and as a substitute in several symphony orchestras such as GSO and the Gothenburg opera.

My likes to work close with composers and has premiered solo and chamber music pieces. She has participated in different temporary innovative projects and recieved grant and support from Konstnärsnämnden, Statens musikverk and others.

My is educated at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen and at the Academy of music and drama at the university of Gothenburg."

-My Hellgren Website (https://myhellgren.com/)
3/27/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Peter Söderberg, born in Stockholm, 1957, is a classical lute player. He studied at the Royal College of Music from 1979 to 1985, and then at the Schola Cantorurn Basiliensis from 1986 to 1988 for Hopkinson Smith, amongst others. He is known for the groups Christer Bothén Trio, Frim Storband, Low Dynamic Orchestra, and Så Vidare.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/411412-Peter-S%C3%B6derberg)
3/27/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Plunked And Bowed 47:15

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Stringed Instruments
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Chamber Rock
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Duo Recordings
New in Improvised Music

Search for other titles on the label:
FRIM Records.


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