SYM

Symbiosis
Fresh, original music rooted in Northern European folk traditions played on beautiful instruments with sympathetic strings; Norwegian hardanger fiddles, Swedish nyckelharpas and hurdy gurdy

Anne Hytta (Norway), Eleonore Billy(France) and Clare Salaman(UK) first met in January 2007 with the intention of exploring the sound world of their remarkable instruments which all have sympathetic (resonating) strings. Each musician came to this first meeting with some musical ideas and an open mind and at the end of the three-day collaboration SYM had been formed and plans for this CD were already in place. They play Norwegian hardanger fiddles, Swedish nyckelharpas and the hurdy gurdy, creating an extraordinary vibrant sound world; resonant, ethereal and original. Through sharing their rich and varied musical experiences as well as their own cultural perspective they have created a repertoire of music, grounded in the traditional music of Northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Anne Hytta : hardanger fiddle

winner of the 2007 Norwegian Folk Awards, Best Solo Album catagory

Eleonore Billy: nyckelharpa, bass nyckelharpa, hardanger fiddle

“French queen of the nyckelharpa” "La Nouvelle Republique

Clare Salaman: nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, hardanger fiddle

“beautiful vehement playing” Daily Telegraph

Reviews for SYM Symbiosis

Released on Taith Records, SYM's debut album features the open strings and drones of Anne Hytta, Eléonore Billy and Clare Salaman, who first met in January 2007 with the intention of exploring the possibilities of their traditional instruments which all have sympathetic, resonating strings. Norwegian hardanger violins, Swedish nyckelharpas and the hurdy gurdy are brandished here to conjure up an eerie, natural environment which is both refreshing and magical. Andalusisk Morgen especially has an atmosphere of foreboding and honesty which hypnotises during its quieter passages, before gently breaking the spell and releasing the listener. Heady and unique.

Musician