Founded
in 1978, Stämbandet is thirteen singers from Scandinavia with a reputation
for excellence both as an a cappella ensemble and a World Music vocal
group. Presenting songs rarely heard outside of Iceland, Norway, and Sweden,
this captivating vocal band often breaks into six- and seven- part harmonies
sung in six languages. Led by Allen LeVines, musical director since
1985, Stämbandet performs a wide range of a cappella folk traditions
unique to Scandinavia, including "trall" - singers imitating
fiddlers playing dance music - a practice that has been compared to scat
singing.
Stämbandet's
cultural contributions have rarely been placed in perspective, for even
within Scandinavia there are few vocal ensembles solely dedicated to the
preservation and performance of traditional Nordic song. American-influenced
"pop" styles have taken over and continue to dominate not just
Scandinavia, but virtually the world. So it is especially significant
that in the United States Stämbandet exists at all, where it is the
only group of its kind -- not only striving for performances of high artistic
merit, but carefully researching the music's origin and history, thereby
introducing to the public many other facets of Scandinavian culture.
The
long term committment of the singers has helped ensure Stämbandet's
cohesiveness of sound and cultural identity. Almost all of the vocalists
were born in Scandinavia.
“...the singer's voices are pure and clear, and the songs are of a folk tradition that sounds fresh and new to American ears.”
“Stämbandet moved in sparkling harmonies from soft to loud, brightly busy to darkly elegiac.”