Slåtter på Kontrabass

The title is simple – Folk Tunes for Double Bass – but the concept is not. For solo double bass… is this some sort of gimmick? Norwegian folk music growling around in the depths? The answer’s in the brilliance of bass player Thelin who, for the last 25 years or so, has been coaxing and cajoling his instrument in ways that bring compelling raw earthiness into his music, at the same time revealing the bass’s hotline to heavenly lyricism and everything in between. From the contemporary music adventures of trio POING (with Frode Haltli and Rolf-Erik Nystrøm) and the Oslo Sinfonietta, to ground-breaking research and inspiring teaching, Thelin is one of the great ambassadors of the bass. Not that the double bass isn’t part of the folk tradition (called the ‘big fiddle’ in some communities), but here it is absolutely centre stage. Thelin’s been working with folk music for years in his own compositions, using his techniques to find new depth in folk tunes and taking them into other musical spheres. This isn’t a cosy ride, it’s a rollercoaster of thrills and spills, emotionally charged ancient melodies stretched into new, fantasy worlds of myths and legends. Hymns and dance tunes launched into a world of virtuosity and a passion for the music.