Pastourelle

Cecilia is a neat little trio of fine Belgian musicians from the bal folk, or Boombal, scene, which is a folk dance tradition in continental Europe akin to the ceilidh or the Welsh twmpath. ‘Cecilia’ is the personification of the musicians' muse, and this is the fourth album exploring her dance choreography. This also marks the trio's tenth anniversary.

Bal folk is made up of different set dance traditions, from the Eastern European schottische, mazurka and waltz to the French bourrées, gavotte and Breton an dro. All are well presented here on an album that begins with a bourrée in two-time on the banks of ‘De Zwarte Beek’ (The Black Brook) in the musicians' home province of Limburg.

Underpinned by the electro-acoustic hurdy-gurdy of Thomas Hoste and the doedelzak (bagpipes) of Jan Leeflang, diatonic accordionist Greet Wuyts runs melodies over the top. The entirely instrumental album offers the stately dance rhythms to warm the blood of their beloved Cecilia and any other attendant bal folk enthusiasts.