What Should I Say Elysian Fields

• Matt McMahon:
• 1 Whoso List to Hunt Prelude 02:17
• 2 Whoso List to Hunt, I know where is an Hind 07:06
• 3 Stand Whoso List, I Know 04:30
• 4 What should I say 04:33
• 5 They flee from me 06:04
• Mats Norrefalk:
• 6 Southern Cross 04:56
• Siebe Poson:
• 7 Dark Dreaming 05:29
• Matt Keegan:
• 8 Elysium I 03:28
• 9 Elysium II 03:58
• 10 Elysium III 02:57
• 11 Elysium IV 02:47
• Matt McMahon:
• 12 At Carna 06:05
• Total Runtime 54:10

Info zu What Should I Say

Elysian Fields is an experiment in creating improvised, composed and semi-composed repertoire for the rarest of instruments, the electric viola da gamba. The idea emerged out of a sense that I wanted to extend myself musically and personally after years of intensive work on the acoustic version of my instrument. I'd seen people playing the electric viola da gamba on You Tube and decided to try my hand at it.

Relationships were important to me in co-creating Elysian Fields. Although I am classically trained and specialise in French baroque music, I have attended jazz events for years. Matt McMahon and I got to know each chatting about music at jazz gigs. It seemed natural to ask him to write for me and to then for us to play together. I first met MattKeegan when I taught him at school “a few years back!”Like Matt McMahon, he grasped immediately what I wanted to do with the electric gamba and writes beautifully for the band. Susie Bishop and I have collaborated on several projects across a range of genres. We have always clicked personally and musically. I am a great fan of her voice and violin playing. I love working with our talented young rhythm section: drummer, Finn Ryan and bass guitarist, Siebe Pogson. They not only keep us in time, but their youth and stream of ideas keep us honest. These people are not only amazing musicians, they are wonderful human beings. I am humbled by their generosity and patience in allowing me to become part of their musical world.

Over the past three years we've gone about developing the ensemble in a largely intuitive way. We've written and arranged charts and tried them out, learning as we go. Given the ancient roots of the viola da gamba – the viol family traces its origins back way well before that of the violin – it was inevitable that a multilayered dialogue has emerged between past and present. This involves elements of baroque, classical, jazz, world and folk music. The past-present conversation is evident in the textures we create, the musical languages we explore and even the texts we've set to music such as poems by Thomas Wyatt. In addition, I believe that the 7-string viola da gamba, which is tuned in fourths and a third like a guitar, is a naturally modal instrument and highly suited to the subtle harmonic inflections that Matt McMahon, Matt Keegan and Siebe Pogson create in their compositions. Pulling this all together has been exciting and has changed me forever. I can only hope listeners enjoy the result.

Elysian Fields is Australia’s only electric viola da gamba band, heralding the creation of a new and unique musical voice. Elysian Fields is the brainchild of viola da gambist, Jenny Eriksson, and leading jazz musicians, Matt Keegan, saxophones, and Matt McMahon, piano.

Eriksson is one of Australia’s leading acoustic viola da gamba players – the viola da gamba being a very old 7-string instrument with frets about the same size as a modern-day cello – and the only exponent of the electric version of her instrument. Since its inception in 2015 the band has been an ongoing experiment in creating new repertoire for a combination of instruments and voice that does not exist anywhere else in the world.

“Over the past three years we’ve gone about developing the ensemble in a largely intuitive way”, say Eriksson. “We’ve written and arranged charts and tried them out, learning as we go. Given the ancient roots of the viola da gamba – the viol family traces its origins back way well before that of the violin – it was inevitable that a multilayered dialogue has emerged between past and present. This involves elements of baroque, classical, jazz, world and folk music. The past-present conversation can be heard in the textures we create, the musical languages we explore and even the texts we’ve set to music.”

“What should I Say” takes its name from a remarkable new cycle of songs by pianist and band member, Matt McMahon. In this piece McMahon sets four poems by Thomas Wyatt, a courtier to King Henry VIII. At its world premiere jazz critic John Shand wrote: “Here was a head-spinning dialogue between half a millennium ago and now, and a sound as foreign as dreaming someone else's dreams. It emanated from Jenny Eriksson's electric viola da gamba, the only example in Australia.” Also featured is “Elysium”, an epic work by Matt Keegan and an original chart by bassist, Siebe Pogson.

Elysian Field’s influences are as broad as its member’s eclectic interests and include e.s.t., Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Tord Gustavson, Victor Wooten, Mats Norrefalk, Jean-Luc Ponty, Weather Report, Mara!, traditional Indian music, Irish and Swedish folk song, Jordi Savall, Marin Marais, John McLauglin, Steve Hunter, Pat Metheny, Jan Gunnar Hoff and Joni Mitchell.

“Elysian Fields uses elements of baroque, classical, jazz, world and folk to create a multilayered, diverse sound. What Should I Say creates a dialogue between the present and the past, through the contrasting use of renaissance poetry, and an electric version of a baroque stringed instrument. ... a thoroughly enjoyable CD that challenges boundaries. It includes hybrid, experimental forms and rare instruments. This music is a testament to Jenny Eriksson’s growing talent, her musicianship, and her ensemble’s quest for new sound.” (Claire Matthews, Classikon)

“Masterful musicians at play in the creation of new works and soundscapes that feature and incorporate Jennifer Eriksson’s electric viola da gamba. The endlessly imaginative Matt McMahon has again here morphed into the perfect vessel for the conception and execution of this impressive set, which comprises the first five compositions on the album. The second half of the album contains Matt Keegan’s substantial composition presented in four movements, with text provided by Philip Pogson.What Should I Say is infused with their dedication to their craft and the creative energy from whence Elysian Fields has emerged.” (Stuart Vandegraaff, Music Trust e-zine Loud Mouth)

Susie Bishop, vocals (tracks 1—5, 8, 10 and 11)
Matt Keegan, saxophone (all except track 12)
Matt McMahon, piano
Jennifer Eriksson, viola da gamba
Siebe Pogson, bass (all except track 12)
Finn Ryan, drums (all except track 12)

Jenny Eriksson
completed her initial musical studies at the then NSW State Conservatorium of Music studying music education and cello with Barbara Woolley. Her first viola da gamba lessons were undertaken with Catherine Finnis in Sydney. She subsequently studied the viola da gamba with Jaap ter Linden at the Rotterdam Conservatorium for three years where she completed post-graduate studies in baroque music. She formed The Marais Project in 2000. Jennifer also directs the Musica Viva in Schools ensemble, Sounds Baroque. She was a founding member of the viol consort, “Seaven Teares” and in collaboration with renowned jazz musicians Matt McMahon and Matt Keegan, she assembled “Elysian Fields”, Australia’s only electric viola da gamba group, in 2015.

Since returning to Australia from Australia in 1988 Jennifer has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Victorian State Opera Orchestra, Salút Baroque, Opera Australia, the Renaissance Players, The Early Dance Consort, The Sydney Consort, Sydney Chamber Choir, The Parsons Affayre and numerous other ensembles.

Jennifer created The Marais Project with the aim of performing the complete works of the French baroque viola da gamba virtuoso, Marin Marais, a task that is more than 85% completed. As well as presenting an annual concert series, The Marais Project has performed live on several occasions for the ABC’s “Sunday Live” broadcasts, Radio National’s “The Music Show” and recorded studio concerts for ABC Classic FM. The ensemble released its first CD, “Viol Dreaming”, in October 2007. Their second CD “Love Reconciled” came out in 2010 to critical acclaim. In 2012 The Marais Project and Mara! produced a joint CD, “Mara! meets Marais”. 2013 saw the release of “Lady Sings the Viol”, a unique compilation of Jenny bio page b“covers” of songs from the 1300 to the present day. In 2015 The Marais Project released its 5th CD, “Smörgåsbord!” which explores Jennifer and lutenist Tommie Andersson’s Swedish heritage.

In addition to her focus on the early music repertoire, Jenny has commissioned more than 20 new Australian works for the viola da gamba including an Australian first work for viol consort and bass clarinet composed by Paul Cutlan and several new works for the electric viola da gamba by jazz composers Matt McMahon, Matt Keegan and Siebe Pogson.

Jenny was invited to take up a prestigious Winter Residency at Banff Arts Centre, Canada in early 2013. Her other ensemble, “Sounds Baroque” has previously been in residence at Bundanon Trust on the New South Wales’ south coast. During 2014 she was a soloist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in that country’s first ever complete performance of Bach’s St John Passion. In 2015 Jenny toured The Marais Project to the New Zealand International Early Music Festival in Dunedin.

Elysian Fields
is one of the world’s few electric viola da gamba ensembles. It was formed by Jenny Eriksson, Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon in 2015. In late 2018, we released our first CD, “What should I say”, on the MOVE Records label.

The band is an ongoing experiment in creating new improvised and composed repertoire for the electric viola da gamba – of which Eriksson is believed to be the only Australian exponent. The backbone of Elysian Field’s set list consists of original works written specifically for the line-up by Matt McMahon, Matt Keegan, Jenny Eriksson and bassist, Siebe Pogson. The band’s covers range widely from Eriksson’s unique arrangements of several songs by Marin Marais to charts and folk songs reflecting Jenny’s Scandinavian heritage from the likes of Swedish jazz/fusion guitarist, Mats Norrefalk, e.s.t. and Norwegian pianist/composer, Jan Gunnar Hoff.

Elysian Field’s influences are as broad as its member’s eclectic interests. We love: e.s.t., Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Tord Gustavson, Victor Wooten, Mats Norrefalk, Jean-Luc Ponty, Weather Report, Mara!, Irish, Indian and Swedish folk song, Jordi Savall, Marin Marais, John McLaughlin, Steve Hunter, Pat Metheny, Jan Gunnar Hoff and Joni Mitchell.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet