Sarah-Jane Summers, Juhani Silvola & Sølvstrøk – Sølvstrøk (Heilo, 2023)
Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola released their album Sølvstrøk on April 21, 2023. The album features an exquisite mix of dazzling, soulful and beautiful music deeply steeped in northern European folk traditions, accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
The duo established their chamber orchestra, Sølvstrøk, comprising highly talented Norwegian folk and classical musicians. This ensemble delivers a vibrant and nuanced performance with lush arrangements throughout the album.
Each track on the album draws inspiration from both self-composed and traditional tunes, expertly reimagined and expanded into masterfully crafted string arrangements. The music features rhythmic impulse, distinctive melodies from Scottish and Norwegian folk traditions, classical harmonies, and contemporary musical elements.
The album opens with “Tune For Alistair,” portraying the lively day of a toddler. Other tracks include “Number 81,” a centuries-old reel infused with a modern twist, and “Christmas Day I Da Mornin’,” a reflective Shetland Christmas piece.
“Owerset II” combines Scottish and Norwegian influences with contemporary sections, while “Morning Prayer” carries a sense of answered prayers.
“Donald Morison” and “Miss Mary MacDonald” offer spirited dance tunes, with the latter incorporating motifs from Mozart’s 25th Symphony. Meanwhile, “Call & Response” draws inspiration from the unique psalm tradition of the Isle of Lewis, enriched with Norwegian influences. Lastly, “In Dispraise Of Whisky” defies its title with lively energy.
Sarah-Jane Summers reflects on the creation of Sølvstrøk, inspired during a performance of the Oslo Chamber Orchestra. “I always dreamt of ‘super-sizing’ our music for chamber orchestra, and when I was heavily pregnant, we went to see Oslo Chamber Orchestra. Afterwards, I said I wanted to write for them. So, we did! We played together at Oslo World Festival; what a joy! Førdefestivalen then got in touch and suggested we create a chamber orchestra of primarily traditional musicians for the 2021 festival, and Sølvstrøk was born.”
Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola, an acclaimed Scottish-Finnish duo, marked their 10th anniversary in 2021.
Summers is renowned as one of Scotland’s leading fiddlers, preserving the old Highland style. She holds a master’s degree in Norwegian folk music and improvisation from the Norwegian Academy of Music and has released multiple solo albums. Silvola, a sought-after guitarist and composer of electro-acoustic contemporary music, has released solo albums and collaborated with prominent artists in the folk and contemporary music scenes.
Musicians:
Sarah-Jane Summers – fiddle, composition, arrangement
Juhani Silvola – acoustic guitar, composition, arrangement
Sølvstrøk:
Fiddle: Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Bjørn Kåre Odde, Kevin Henderson, Vegar Vårdal, Selma French
Bolstad, Erlend Viken
Viola: Mari Giske, Lise Voldsdal
Cello: Gregor Riddell, Kaja Fjellberg Pettersen
Double Bass: Ellen Brekken
Buy Sølvstrøk.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.