Poems for Orchestra
Bohuslän Big Band meets Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark and Karin Nakagawa in this concert film by Donovan von Martens.
Concert film based on the acclaimed album Poems for Orchestra
Big band meets Nordic folk music and Japanese musical tradition in this collaboration between Bohuslän Big Band, Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark and Karin Nakagawa. This concert film by Donovan von Martens takes its starting point in the critically acclaimed album Poems for Orchestra from 2019.
The three participating musical artists have, to say the least, very different musical backgrounds. Lena Willemark, with her roots in the traditional folk music of Älvdalen, and Anders Jormin, a renowned composer and double bassist with a worldwide reputation in contemporary improvised music. Karin Nakagawa is one of the leading performers on the 25-string concert koto, a very old harp-like instrument rarely heard outside Japan, and she has her roots in the classical Japanese tradition.
The album Poems for Orchestra received glowing reviews in Sweden, Norway, as well as in Poland and Japan. A mix of Japanese influences from Karin Nakagawa, original compositions by Anders Jormin, and vocals by Lena Willemark. All in an exciting and unusual musical collaboration with the Bohuslän Big Band – it’s not every day a Japanese koto shares the stage with a big band.
Recorded at Vara Concert Hall on 9–10 November 2021.
Track list:
Ogadh dett / Your Eye
contemplation
Krattskog Barn / Grove Barn
Hirajoshi
The October Sea
Ödetorp / Desolate Cottage
Måseskär
Emergency call
Contributors
Double bass: Anders Jormin
Vocals & Violin: Lena Willemark
Koto: Karin Nakagawa
Woodwinds: Joakim Rolandsson, Marin Bjurek Svanström, Linus Lindblom, Mikael Karlsson, Alberto Pinton
Trumpeter / Flugelhorn: Lennart Grahn, Samuel Olsson, Staffan Svensson, Jan Eliasson
Trombonists: Niclas Rydh, Christer Olsson, Robert Svensson, Anders Hellman
Piano: Stefan Wingefors
Drums: Christian Jormin
Compositions: Anders Jormin
Text: Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark & Tomas Tranströmer
Director: Donovan Von Martens
Photo: Donovan Von Martens
Editing: Donovan Von Martens
Camera: Donovan Von Martens, Damien Priest, Carl Ternstedt
Lighting design: Jenny Björklund
Recording and mixing: Åke Linton
Production: Linda Gustafsson Hedborg & Ralph Soovik
Orchestra Director: Eric Brandström Arellano
Interviewed: Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark, Karin Nakagawa, Joakim Rolandsson
Executive producer: Vara Concert Hall / Bohuslän Big Band
With support from the Västra Götaland Region.