West Stockbridge — Skye Consort & Emma Björling delivered a set at The Foundry on Tuesday, October 1, that shone with polish, flashed with virtuosity, and bubbled with joy. Whatever notions people had about the music they were about to hear underwent a marvelous transformation as the group performed one selection after another that defied expectations and brought everyone to their feet. We were told to expect music drawing from the folk traditions of Scandinavia, French Canada, Ireland, and the British Isles, but the group’s ingenious arrangements and original tunes give them a surprisingly modern sound.
Also surprising was the quality of the group’s singing. Seán Dagher, the band’s founding lead singer, has a voice strong enough to carry the band on his own, which he does on several numbers. Alex Kehler and Amanda Keesmaat also provide vocals.
Swedish folk singer Emma Björling brings more than her singing voice to bear on the group’s material. She also brings her vocal-arranging chops. (She is a member of the a cappella singing group Kongero, who appeared at The Foundry last December.) On many numbers, Emma sets up a groove with her percussive step dancing and keeps a steady beat throughout. It works like a charm. Emma holds degrees in traditional Swedish music from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and in voice pedagogy, music theory, and ensemble teaching from Ingesund College of Music.
Based in Québec, Alex Kehler sings and plays fiddle and nyckelharpa, which he does in a number of bands working in Québec and New England: La Nef, Soulwood, Kehler Williams duo, Les Siffleurs de Nuits, and Triton. He is considered one of Canada’s leading nyckelharpa players. He is also part of the Québecois and New England traditional music scene. Since 2011, Alex has dedicated himself to Scandinavian music, playing nyckleharpa and studying with Torbjörn Näsböm, Magnus Holmstöm, and David Eriksson.
An original member of Skye Consort, Amanda Keesmaat is principal cello with Arion Baroque Orchestra. So she has classical chops to spare (i.e., always plays in tune). But she also has extensive experience with pop and folk and has a natural feel for everything she plays with Skye Consort.
The musicianship of this band is stunning. They play everything from Swedish love songs and Scottish reels to Acadian and Québécois tunes, all arranged with contemporary harmonies and instrumentation that have many of the characteristics of classic chamber music. All the players know how to improvise on their instruments. But they also know how to nail down intricate arrangements and perform them with consistent precision—all while singing meticulously arranged four-part harmonies. Their latest album, released in May, is “Ode & Ballade.”
Their home page provides only the barest clue: “Nordic – Celtic – Québecois.” Those words are helpful, but they lead you to expect something relatively commonplace. Lots of groups play those styles. None of them do it like Skye Consort.
