The Danish string quartet is among the most exciting and innovative young ensembles of our time, constantly opening up new perspectives in both the core classical repertoire and contemporary works. At the same time, the musicians surprise with impressive excursions into Nordic folklore. Their 2014 album 'Wood Works' on Dacapo Records became a surprise success, garnering enthusiastic acclaim from concertgoers worldwide. Now, the quartet presents its folk project with a moving new recording on ECM. The recording, 'Fästan', is based on an unusual Christmas hymn published in 1732 by H.A. Brorson, a Danish theologian and poet. This hymn is characterized by a mysterious, dark melody, as Brorson chose an old Lutheran funeral hymn as its musical foundation, thus elegantly highlighting the connection between life and death. 'From this starting point, we embark on a journey through the diverse landscape of Nordic folk melodies, ultimately returning to Brorson,' explain the members of the quartet. 'Our route could have taken many different paths, but we believe we have brought back some special mementos. In these ancient tunes, we discover great beauty and depth; it is difficult for us not to express them through our string quartet. While Brorson sought the most beautiful rose, we have discovered numerous fascinating melodies – and hope that our audience will enjoy our interpretations.'
