Näcken (2011)


for violin solo

duration c. 4.5’


premiered 10/20/2011 by Ray Shows, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota


this recording made 11/1/2011 by Madalyn Parnas, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana


program note


Näcken, the näck, is a Swedish water spirit who plays an enchanted fiddle. His music lures humans to drown in lakes and streams. He is also known as strömkarlen (the stream man) and in Norway he is called fossegrim.


If found and greeted properly, it is said that the näck will teach a human to play so well that "the trees dance and waterfalls stop at his music." But after learning the näck's music, a man may lose his mind and play himself to death.


The arpeggiated harmonics and driving motion of Näcken were inspired by this legend and by the clear and shimmering boreal waters that Näcken calls home.


The näck is a lonely spirit. Perhaps he plays so that he will no longer be alone.


acknowledgements


With thanks to Alejandro Drago for his passion, dedication to music-making, and friendship, to Henrik Strindberg for his inspiring sound-worlds, and to Ulf Klarström and Simon Jansson for taking me to Näcken's home.