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With their fresh and unique take on Nordic music, the Swedish musicians Erik Ask-Upmark and Anna Rynefors - known as "Dråm" - have taken the roots music community by storm.

With much charm and a big sense of humour, they perform traditional Nordic music in a captivating way that speaks to audiences everywhere. They are both "riksspelmän" (a distinction awarded to the best players of traditional music in Sweden) and have toured extensively in Europe as well as in America.

The quietness of Sweden's wide open spaces shows through in the fragile melodies of this talented duo. A wonderful flow of ear-caressing musical sounds, performed with great skill on instruments such as the harp (which Erik is re-introducing into Swedish folk music after a centuries-long hiatus), the keyed fiddle known as Nyckelharpa which fascinates audiences everywhere, and finally the little-known Swedish bagpipes, a more mellow version of their Scottish counterpart.

Dråm approaches Swedish music with respect and love, imparting a contemporary and passionate character to tradition, while maintaining the very soul of it!

For 2008 and 2009 Dråm have several tours planned, including to England, Poland, Germany, USA and Japan.

Some reviews:

"Lovely traditional melodies... all expertly played"
- Dirty Linen

"A beautiful showcase of the traditional, Swedish nyckelharpa backed by the Celtic folk harp and Swedish and medieval bagpipes, Dråm's self-titled album transports their listeners instantaneously to a life much simpler and earth-based, rich with tradition and culture. This album sits so poignantly and memorably with its listeners largely due to the distinct and plaintive, haunting quality of both the nyckelharpa and the bagpipes, lending a yearning, desiring quality to the music, one that speaks of the universal, human condition, regardless of time period. However, all analysis aside, this is simply a heartfelt, moving album."
- CD Baby, pick of the week

"A record with unbelievably dense atmosphere, created with so few instruments. Highly recommended!"
- Der Hörspiegel (Germany)

"Finally - a Swedish folk music CD with great traditional worth, yet very contemporary and most enthralling to the listener. It is obvious from their energetic and emotional performance that Erik Ask-Upmark and Anna Rynefors are first-class musicians, in complete control of their instruments."
- Online Music Magazine

LINER NOTES

Anna Rynefors nyckelharpa, Swedish bagpipe, rebec, percussion
Erik Ask-Upmark harp, Swedish & medieval bagpipes

Dråm [drohm]: Dialect word from Western Sweden meaning "drone" (a sustained note or chord accompanying a melody), a feature found on instruments like the bagpipe, nyckelharpa etc. Also an awarded Swedish traditional music duo, consisting of the two musicians Anna Rynefors & Erik Ask-Upmark. They have been playing together for over a decade, touring all over the world, and are both "riksspelmän" ("Official master musicians of the Realm"). Other recordings with Anna & Erik include those with their folk quartet, Svanevit (NTCD01 - 2005) and medieval ensemble Falsobordone (ACACD0043 - 2003).

Notes on the instruments:

Swedish bagpipe: The bagpipe has been played in Sweden for a long time, with the area around Västerdalälven in Western Dalarna as seat of the strongest tradition.

Nyckelharpa: Meaning "keyed harp", "Harpa" used to mean any type of stringed instrument, even bowed instruments like the nyckelharpa. It's unique for Sweden and is unofficially proclaimed the national instrument!

Medieval bagpipe: Swedish church paintings from the Middle Ages often show this kind of bagpipe, still being played today in e.g. France and Germany.

Rebec: Medieval bowed instrument.

Percussion: Medieval-style tambourin.

Harp: In Swedish folklore one of the most fabled instruments, the harp has so far been strangely absent from the Swedish folk scene. Dråm's harp is built in the Celtic style.

1. Kringellek - 2.25

Kringellek (polska) after Anders Frisell, Dalarna
During childhood, the famous fiddler Anders Frisell had to hide his love for the violin - his parents were very religious and even burnt his instrument (tool of the Devil!) on several occasions. Thus it feels like poetic justice that we play one of his tunes on the bagpipe, an instrument also known as "the Devil's bellows"...
AR: Swedish bagpipe EAU: Harp

2. Trilltrall - 4.41
Herding tune After Ludvig Eriksson, Dalarna
This peculiar tune has a rather wilful and ancient tonality that changes when you least expect it.
AR: Rebec EAU: Harp

3. Fransosen - 5.31
Polonaise from Anders Larsson's note book, Västergötland / Polonaise by Anna Rynefors
We gave this tune a bit of a French flavor since it reminds us more of folk music from that region rather than Sweden (the bagpipes still being very important in French folk music). It comes with a newly written counter-melody.
AR: Nyckelharpa EAU: Harp & medieval bagpipe

4. A-mollarn - 3.30
Polonaise from Johannes Bryngelsson's note book, Västergötland
18th century fiddler Johannes Bryngelsson wrote down many wonderful tunes in his note-book which is part of the "Sexdrega collection", named after his place of residence. This polonaise, an old favourite of ours, got its name after the key ("A-mollarn"="A-minor") we play it in on the Nyckelharpa - although on the rebec it comes out in D...
AR: Rebec EAU: Harp

5. Skebergslåten - 2.30
Song after Hilda Horn, Skeberg, Dalarna
An especially beautiful melody, originally with the lyrics "Here alone I wander, dreaming of the one I love".
EAU: Harp

6. Sporren - 2.58
Polska after Karl Sporr, Dalarna
Fiddler Karl Sporr (1887-1967) was a controversial man with a lot of opinions about traditional music and its performance. He nevertheless preserved many great tunes to posterity, including this mesmerizing polska.
AR: Swedish bagpipe EAU: Harp

7. Brudmarsch - 3.57
Bridal march after Edvard Johnsson, Västergötland
In Västergötland, the musicians had to have a large repertoire for weddings, since these often lasted a week or more...
AR: Swedish bagpipe EAU: Medieval bagpipe

8. Polonäsfrossa - 5.39
Polonaises from the Sexdrega collection, Västergötland
No less than three different polonaises from the 18th century have been crammed together here. We call it "polonäsfrossa" - a Polonaise Feast!
AR: Nyckelharpa EAU: Harp

9. Springlek - 1.56
Springlek after Lissmyr Erik Persson, Dalarna
This is a sort of fast polska played primarily in western Dalarna, seat of the strongest tradition for the Swedish bagpipe.
EAU: Swedish bagpipe

10. Eddi o Addi - 2.46
Dance tune after Johan Jacob Bruun, Skåne
This melody was written down by John Enninger, famous musician in Skåne (southern Sweden) one hundred years ago, replete with - for the time - colourful lyrics. He assumed it to be a dance tune but at the same time described it, oddly enough, as a "table grace". It is heard here in an instrumental version, to avoid any offence and/or confusion...
AR: Rebec EAU: Harp & Swedish bagpipe

11. Valltrall - 4.38
Herding tunes (song & polska) after Ludvig Eriksson, Dalarna
Shepherds used to sing (tralla) tunes like this to pass the time while watching their flock, but the bagpipe is also regarded as an old herding instrument. It is however rare with tunes that fit the instrument as well as these two...
AR: Swedish bagpipe EAU: Harp

12. Stabblåten - 3.41
Herding improvisation by Erik Ask-Upmark / Long dance after Magnus Engzelius, Dalarna
Magnus Engzelius (1853-1931) committed himself early on to preserving the traditional music and wrote down many tunes, including "Stabblåten", a popular tune often played at weddings. It follows an improvisation upon a common herding call theme.
AR: Swedish bagpipe EAU: Swedish bagpipe

13. Efter dansen ("After the dance") - 1.18
Harp improvisation by Erik Ask-Upmark
An empty dance floor. The musicians are packing up their instruments. Only the harpist refuses, collecting the impressions of the evening in one final piece...
EAU: Harp

14. Seglora - 4.03
Waltz after Johan Helgo Andersson, Västergötland
A classic Western Swedish fiddler's tune from the small town of Seglora, famous for its many great musicians.
AR: Percussion EAU: Harp & medieval bagpipe

All tracks arranged and performed by Anna Rynefors & Erik Ask-Upmark. Recorded at Nordic Tradition Studios, Eslöv, Sweden. Produced by Dråm and Nordic Tradition. Graphic design by Erik Ask-Upmark. Photography by Anders Larsson and Erik Ask-Upmark. This CD was made with help from the Swedish Council for Cultural Affairs.

Erik Ask-Upmark also has a solo album and performs in the group Svanevit, both on Magnatune.