Music

Sample tracks from Sociable Butterflies (2018)

Fløteren / Byggnan (Annbjørg Lien and Bjørn Ole Rasch / Byss-Calle)

Fløteren (“The Log Driver”) is a fun contemporary tune by Norwegian fiddler Annbjørg Lien that attracted our attention because of its “floating” time signature. We pair it with Byggnan, a nearly 200-year-old Swedish polska by the venerated composer Byss-Calle (a.k.a. Carl Ersson Bössa, 1783-1847). (Fløteren © Annbjørg Lien & Bjørn Ole Rasch)

The ‘A’ Jig Set: I Won’t Do the Work / Mom’s Jig / Lady Nelley Wemyes's (Trad. Irish-Scottish / Jerry Holland / Trad. Scottish)

Guest: Allie Bennett, bass.

Sample tracks from First Flight (2014)

Awkward Annie / 30-års Jiggen (Kate Rusby / Roger Tallroth) 4:09

Guest: Darren McMullen, mandola
A wonderfully silly song from Kate Rusby that musically suggested a jig to use as an instrumental break. The 30-Years’ Jig was written by Roger Tallroth and dedicated to his Väsen bandmate, Olov Johansson, on the occasion of Olov’s 30th birthday.

Bučimiš (Trad. Bulgarian) 3:39

Guest: Nick Halley, percussion
Bučimiš (pronounced “boo chee Meesh”) is a traditional Bulgarian tune in 15/16 time, played for a particular Thracian dance that is performed low to the ground and in a line. Its title means “Hemlock”.

La fée des dents (André Brunet) 4:23

Guest: Darren McMullen, mandolin
Anthony learned this lovely slow jig, the title of which translates as “The Tooth Fairy”, from composer André Brunet of the band De Temps Antan while sharing a stage at the Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound, ON. When Anthony introduced it to us, we were immediately smitten with it.