Hurv KRCD-34: Historiska inspelningar av svensk folkmusik VIII - Fiddle Tunes from Rättvik, Boda and Bingsjö

Rättvik

Funk Olof Andersson - 3 tracks
Klockar Gudmund Olsson - 5 tracks
Perols Gudmund Olsson - 3 tracks
Börjes Olle Samuelsson - 2 tracks
Petters Erik Eriksson - 1 tracks

Boda

Fräs Erik Andersson - 15 tracks
Finn Jonas Jonsson - 2 tracks
Finn Erik Jonsson - 3 tracks
Tjäder Jonas Andersson (Hedin) - 4 tracks

Bingsjö

Päkkos Helmer Olsson - 2 spår
Gustav Päkkos - 3 spår
Nylands Jonas och Erik Olsson - 7 spår

The fiddle music of Rättvik, Boda and Bingsjö is perhaps the most documented in all of Sweden, both when it comes to transcrip-tions and recordings. This of course causes some pleasant but difficult problems for a publisher: How is the selection to be made? The purpose of this record is not primarily to present the "best" (which of course depends on personal taste), but the most "interesting". However, what is "interesting" is also decided rather subjectively.

So whatever you decide, someone will always ask why this or that player was not included. However, we can probably agree that the oldest recordings are the most interesting simply by virtue of their age. Although the sound quality is not always the best and some of the fiddlers were very old at the time of recording, we have a possibility here to get to know these famous playing "dialects" straight from the sources. I was about to write "as uninfluenced as possible" without thinking, but later I started thinking of what this expression really means. "Uninfluenced" by what? The changing styles and ideals of later times? If you find the oldest playing styles most "interesting", do you then consequently oppose development and changes —- are you then a reactionary? No, hardly—- let us rather raise the question if you should have a thorough knowledge of a genre before changing it, and if there is otherwise a risk that what we call "development" should rather be called "watering down". Then it is up to everyone to go as far as he can and then come back and convince us of the merits of what he has found nearby or far away. It might be a beautiful silver brooch, but it might also be some junk made to fool tourists.

One thought that strikes me when listening to the music of this record is —- we who were all so sure how the Rättvik, Boda and Bingsjö styles sound —- honestly —- is not this a time for surprises, for the joy of being shaken a bit?

Another thought that comes up is —- what is younger and what is older? These fiddlers are of the kind that we have learnt to call older, but they actually lived during a younger time —- we are the ones who are older, the time we live in has become older, and shows all symptoms of ageing, forgetfulness not least. Those who are able to receive this music and learn from it will find themselves in a process of rejuvenation. And surprise can be that first little step.

Below is a presentation of the fiddlers and the music by Arne Bjernulf, author of the book Rättviks spelmän eller Tusen spelmän från Rättvik ("Rättvik's Fiddlers or One Thousand Fiddlers from Rättvik"), published by the Rättvik fiddler's league in 1993. He has also helped me with the photo research and dialectal titles and texts of the tunes and been my contact with family members of the fiddlers. Many thanks to you, Arne!

This CD is based on a number of very early recordings on 78's from 1939 and 1947 and some tape recordings from the 1940's and 50's. The players are from Rättvik itself (the area by lake Siljan) (5 players), and from the neighbouring areas of Boda (4) and Bingsjö (4), nowadays parts of the municipality of Rättvik. They are divided into these three main groups.