Philip Pogson

A SCANDINAVIAN JOURNEY ON MELBOURNE DIGITAL CONCERT HALL

‘One cannot dispute that an instrument has never come so close to resembling the human voice as the viol has, which indeed is only distinguished from it by the fact that it cannot utter any words.’ (Jean Rousseau, 1687)

Jenny Eriksson & her acoustic viol

I, Jenny Erikkson, added up the dates the other day. I have been playing the viola da gamba professionally for well over three decades. I just love it. I still get up each morning wanting to play. Why? It’s because the viola da gamba sings! Right back in the 1600s Jean Rousseau put it so well in the quotation above and nothing has changed since.

People often ask me why I formed my electric viola da gamba band, Elysian Fields, having played acoustic early music quite successfully. In reality, Elysian Fields simply extends the versatility of this ancient instrument into new realms. Same instrument, different colleagues – and a new artistic challenge!

The electric viola da gamba

Our July 15 broadcast for Melbournde Digital Concert Hall (MDCH) draws on our second Elysian Fields CD, FIKA (pron. ‘fee-ka’). Fika is a term the Swedish use to describe the process of sitting down for coffee, conversation and pastries with friends and family. In making the recording on which I broadcast is based, we wanted to create something beautiful that would bring people together, just as fika does.

As well as Matt McMahon and Susie Bishop’s arrangement of several folk songs, and jazz by the likes of e.s.t. and Norwegian jazz pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff, our MDCH broadcast also features music specially composed for us including ‘Shadow’ by Australian composer and fellow viola da gambist, Alice Chance. This work was kindly commissioned for Elysian Fields by Michael Lawrence-Slater. Band member and sax player Matt Keegan also contributes two charts and I have written one as well. I hope you can listen in.

What:

Elysian Fields Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble, broadcasts on Melbourne Digital Concert Hall (MDCH). Recorded at The Concourse, Chatswood

When:

8.30pm, Thursday July 15 (Duration 50-55 minutes)

Tickets:

https://watch.melbournedigitalconcerthall.com/#/item/70004

NB – Tickets are $24 and must be purchased beforehand. Ticketholders can watch the program for up to 3 days after the event. All revenue goes to the musicians.

Jenny Eriksson, Elysian Fields, July 2021

Featured image : Elysian Fields in action at Mary’s Underground

 

Published by Philip Pogson

Philip Pogson originally trained as a music teacher and classical guitarist at Sydney Conservatorium before undertaking post graduate studies in classical guitar in Europe. For nearly two decades he has worked as a senior business advisor, consultant and company director. He has maintained an active interest in music and the arts as the co-managing director of early music ensembles, “The Marais Project” and “Sounds Baroque”, and “Elysian Fields”, Australia’s first electric viola da gamba improvised music ensemble. Along with his wife Jennifer Eriksson he has co-commissioned more than 20 new Australian works for viola da gamba and electric viola da gamba and acted as executive producer for a number of highly regarded CDs. He enjoys reading, attending concerts and gigs and occasional outings on bass guitar.