Ode & Ballade by Skye Consort & Emma Bjorling brings stories of medieval saints and sacred wells, fair maidens outsmarting presumptuous knights, beautiful or boisterous drinking songs, thieves meeting their fate, heartbreaking love songs, groovy dance tunes, and celebrations of the return of Spring. The album combines elements from world music and classical traditions to narrate poems, tales, legends, and sonnets from Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, France and more.
Ode & Ballade by Skye Consort & Emma Bjorling brings stories of medieval saints and sacred wells, fair maidens outsmarting presumptuous knights, beautiful or boisterous drinking songs, thieves meeting their fate, heartbreaking love songs, groovy dance tunes, and celebrations of the return of Spring. The album combines elements from world music and classical traditions to narrate poems, tales, legends, and sonnets from Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, France and more.
The members of the Skye Consort share a love of many of the sonorities associated with the early music movement and found that a fusion of these sounds with the evocative melodies of folk repertoire produces a new and interesting sound, further deepened and characterized by adding bass instruments and percussion. Also, the use of a countertenor emphasizes the ethereal and melancholy qualities of the songs performed. The songs and instrumental pieces chosen for the album come mainly from the Celtic, English and Swedish traditions but also include arrangements of melodies written by members of Skye Consort in a style that complements the other selections.
Ode & Ballade by Skye Consort & Emma Bjorling brings stories of medieval saints and sacred wells, fair maidens outsmarting presumptuous knights, beautiful or boisterous drinking songs, thieves meeting their fate, heartbreaking love songs, groovy dance tunes, and celebrations of the return of Spring. The album combines elements from world music and classical traditions to narrate poems, tales, legends, and sonnets from Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, France and more.