HRP Workshop Dec. 1, 2023
with Sjöviks Folkhögskola
https://www.sjovik.eu/

Theme: Traditional Music from Québec

We accommodated approximately 25 music college students in this workshop, from the folk music, jazz, rock, and pop lines of study, including singers and many different instruments. We provided a variety of activities for everyone in our arrangements and there was great freedom of choice.

Because of the short timeline and the mixed-genre group, we handed out sheet music of the tunes and lyrics, but for the most part the notes were memorized quickly, after which we did not use sheet music.

Session 1 (60min) – Background information on the materials and on traditional music from Québec, a distinct culture and society within Canada. Taught the song “La Bastringue” in Québecois French, a dialogue between two dancers at a dance party. Taught the fiddle tune and the simple 3-part group dance that goes with it. Taught the podorythmie - the seated foot percussion technique that is common in dance music from Québec.

Session 2 (90min) – Arranged and rehearsed the song, with tasks divided up between singers (high voices and low voices in conversation, representing the two characters in the song), melody tune players, rhythm section, and dancers. Decisions were made as to when to start the podorythmie, the dancing, etc. with the fiddle tune alternating with sections of the song and the high-energy swing dancing co-ordinated with the active section of the fiddle tune.

Session 3 (60min optional for instrumentalists, after lunch) – Learned an alternate ¨tricky tune¨, a brandy in 3/2 time called “La grande gigue simple”. We had initially thought that this could also be thrown into the La Bastringue set but decided, based on the needs of the group, that it was large enough that it needed to be handled on its own. Instrumentalists were divided into melody players and rhythm section and worked with separately, and then brought together to create the whole piece. This also included podorythmie.

Evening: The Halifax Rättvik Project performed the first half of a concert and the students played the second half, during which they/we presented the arrangements of Québecois music that we had worked on together during the day. This fun and well-attended event took place at Humlebackens Kulturhus https://www.humlebackenskulturhus.se/ , a venue run by Kerstin Sonnbäck, who also teaches voice at Sjöviks Folkhögskola.

This was a highly energetic and enjoyable time with these enthusiastic and talented students, who absorbed this music quickly and imbued it with a wonderful youthful energy. Our special thanks to them, to Kerstin Sonnbäck, and to Anton Leanderson-Andréas, director of the music program at Sjöviks Folkhögskola.