Solvstrok

Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola have created their own chamber orchestra Sølvstrøk (Silverstroke), consisting of a dream team of Norwegian folk & classical musicians, with a punchy & nuanced sound.

Each track takes a tune as its starting point (5 self- composed & 5 traditional), which Summers/ Silvola recomposed & expanded into refined string arrangements, focusing on the rhythmic drive & distinctive melodies of Scottish & Norwegian folk music, classical harmonies, and contemporary music colour.

The album opens with Tune For Alistair, illustrating the day of an energetic toddler.Number 81 is a 400 year old 6-barrel that we call Baroque-Techno, while Christmas Day I Da Mornin' is a Shetland Christmas meditation. Owerset II, a Scottish- Norwegian pols by Summers, has an extended contemporary music section. Morning Prayer is a prayer that was finally answered. Donald Morison & Miss Mary MacDonald are driving dances, the latter reusing the opening of Mozart's 25th Symphony. Call & Response is inspired by the unique psalm tradition from The Isle of Lewis, which was visited by the Vikings and has many Norwegian place names. Finally, In Dispraise Of Whisky's energy belies the sober title!