TRADITIONS
JAERV & THE OK FACTOR
In 2017, Minneapolis string duo The OK Factor opened for Swedish quintet Jaerv at the Cedar Cultural Center, and their musical worlds collided. There was an immediate connection, grounded in a mutual love and respect for one anothers’ talent, rhythmic intricacies, inspiring ornamentation, and fascinating melodies. After joint tours in both the US and Sweden, an organic friendship and collaboration has developed that is felt, seen, and heard by their audiences.
This EP is a compilation of live recordings from their US/Sweden tours from 2021 - 2023, captured in fields of the Midwest and forests of Sweden. It reflects the bands’ respect for musical tradition paired with the desire to expand its boundaries. It is their sincere hope that every listener experiences the tangible joy that pulses through each band member, and follows their own traditions not just back in time, but into the future.
Långt bort i skogen
trad. lullaby from Dalarna, Sweden
This Swedish lullaby used to put Markus to sleep when he was a child. Likewise, “Shenandoah” was sung to Olivia and her sisters to lull them to sleep, and now Olivia carries on that tradition with her own children.
Translation:
Far away in the forest, among the mossy mountains,
there is a shelter hidden from the noise of the world.
My small lambs, there I´ll find the peace that I´ll never leave.
My small lambs, there is the friend that I´ll never leave.
Recorded in Floda, just outside of Göteborg
Reinländer
trad. from Härjedalen, Sweden
The reinländer dance, which is most often called schottis in swedish, got very popular in northern Europe during the 1800s and is still a common traditional dance in the entire Scandinavia.
Recorded on stage at The Grand Theater in Wausau, Wisconsin
mary and the soldier
trad. Scotland/Ireland
This is a traditional schottish/irish song that we have swedified. It´s originally it´s in 4/4-time but we have made it into a swedish polska in 3/4-time.
Recorded at Kolboryds loge just outside of Göteborg
putte & petter
two traditional slängpolskas from Småland, Sweden
The slängpolska dance was the fashion dance in southern Sweden for 250 years, from the 1600s until late 1800s.
In the 1500s Sweden was closely connected to Poland through king Sigismund who was the grandson of the Swedish king Gustav Vasa. From Sigismund´s court the polska dance was spread down to the common people in Sweden.
Fun fact – Markus´s mothers ancester (Arvid Stålarm/ Steel arm) was employed at the swedish king Gustav Vasa´s court in the 1500s. He supported Sigismund, but when Sigismund lost the swedish throne in the late 1500s Stålarm was inprisoned at Gripsolm castle. He was sentenced to death but was pardoned at the last moment.
Recorded on Rib Mountain in Wausau, Wisconsin
dalasvit
Marsch från Ore - trad. from Dalarna, Sweden.
We have this wedding tune after a fiddler from Dalarna, named Jonny Soling.
Fun fact: In the old days the musicians chose the tempo of the wedding marches depending on how beautiful they thought the bride was. If they thought she was unusually beautiful they would choose a very slow tempo.
Polska från Västerdalarna - trad. from Dalarna, Sweden.
We have this polska after a fiddler from Småland, named Mats Thiger. It´s a fast energetic tune from the west of Dalarna close to the swedish-norwegian border.
Recorded at Kolboryds loge just outside Göteborg
STREAM TRADITIONS ON ALL PLATFORMS OCTOBER 27
