|
|
|
|
PYSO visit to
Sweden At the time of the trip in August 2009 the PYSO players had been playing together for 2 years with almost no change in personnel, and we were on very good form with a well established repertoire. We chose to travel to Sweden, because music has a central part in Swedish cultural life, with many young people learning string instruments and an exciting culture of folk violin playing that seems woven into the fabric of society. We wanted to share music-making with other young musicians and experience the wonderful culture, landscape and wildlife in Scandinavia. The trip was successful in every possible way, and the PYSO players made strong friendships with their counterparts in DalaViolinisterna, who will be visiting us here in Cornwall in August 2010. For the main part of the trip we all stayed with families in or around Borlänge, in Dalana in Central Sweden. The week included rehearsals and several concerts shared with DalaViolinisterna and their energetic director Eva Unosson in local churches, as well as concerts in schools. We were able to take part in many activities typical in this area. Our players spent a day in a Swedish school, experiencing some very different and refreshing learning environments to those here, and we all spent good lengths of time in the hills, enjoying the woods and swimming in the lakes and learning folk songs – it was idyllic. Our hosts were unbelievably generous to us and we really can’t thank them enough. For seven days we indulged in our favourite activities – making music, eating, swimming, learning, making more music, and making friends, all in the most beautiful surroundings. This was a trip which I’m sure we will all cherish for ever. Concerts we played whilst in Sweden
Wednesday 26th
August Klacken school concert
Quotes from some of the PYSO players... "I
really enjoyed playing in the really nice churches over there and also in
the school and college to some kids that haven’t listened to classical music
before. I liked how some of them really got into it.
"One of the most inspiring
things I did in Sweden was to visit my partner's school. It was a special
music school where they have space to practice, intense tutoring, lessons
in singing, notation and composition. I loved playing 'Snowscape', which
sounded very eerie in the Gagnefs Church which was white and so open. I
think it was a great trip, where everybody came together and had such
fun."
"Here are some of my
favourite memories of our trip to Sweden. For one night we went to Spansan,
which was out in the country, and we all slept in little summer houses; we
had a camp fire on an island and ate chocolate and bananas. Getting up
early in the morning and swimming in the cold freshwater lake just outside
our host's home. Dressing up in national costume and playing Swedish Jigs
which I now know by heart! Cycling around the town and on open big empty
flat roads, and over two floating bridges. Having a day in Stockholm. We
did lots of concerts and it was fun playing with our Swedish partners."
"Before we left on the overnight sleeper from Penzance to London Paddington I had mixed emotions as I didn't know what to expect in Sweden. But I needn't have worried as Sweden was GREAT!!! I enjoyed everything about the whole trip as it was exciting, funny and worthwhile experience both for playing and getting to know a lot more people. I also got to know PYSO players a lot better as I had only been in PYSO for a few months beforehand. My favourite part of the trip was when we stayed in log cabins on the Lake. We had a camp fire that night across on the other side of the lake which we got to by boats. We toasted bananas with melted chocolate inside. The following day we all went swimming at 8:00am in the morning - the water was FREEZING!!!!! But it was fun because we got to catch fish on the lake and go out in the boats, also to jump in and out of the sauna and into the lake. I now can't wait to see DalaViolinisterna again." (Tim adds: ‘Water doesn’t usually freeze at 15 degrees, but to some people it seems colder than it really is!’)
A snippet of what we sounded like...
Another impromptu short clip (24 seconds!). This is DalaViolinisterna practicing their routine...
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accommodation in Stockholm for our last evening in Sweden was booked at the Castanea Old Town Hostel, located on one of the Old Town's narrow and cobble-stoned streets.
Below: Stockholm Old Town
|
A major part of our fundraising
effort, the 'All Cornish Summer Raffle',
A very big 'Thank You' from all of us, to
everyone who supported us The money raised made a very real difference to our trip to Sweden. |
