Event

Global Rhythms: Vasen

With one foot firmly planted in the Swedish fiddle tradition and the other in new acoustic music, Sweden's folk supergroup Väsen is a unique collaboration between three virtuoso performers: Olov Johansson, the fabled master of the nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle unique to Sweden); Mikael Marin on viola; and guitarist Roger Tallroth. These three distinctive musicians blend into one body inhabiting their own magic territory between classical, folk, and pop. The creative spark the trio brings to centuries-old Swedish sounds has evolved over the group's two decades playing together, improvising melodies, and kicking around beloved tunes, as well as adding new inspiration from other cultural traditions. First performing together in 1989, Väsen has become a phenomenon over the last 20 years, one of the stars of the world music firmament performing throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, and producing 13 hit CDs. A pre-concert talk begins at 7:20 pm.