Göran Månsson & Friends: Ol’ Jansa

Apropos of Ol’Jansa by Göran Månsson & Friends, it’s worth recalling that Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin) once began his quest thus: “Would it be too bold to imagine, that in the great length of time, since the earth began to exist, perhaps millions of ages before the commencement of the history of mankind, would it be too bold to imagine, that all warm-blooded animals have arisen from one living filament…”

And while the pre-history and proto history of Old Europe is anything but certain, there is always a though that the mighty Celts, whose DNA has been traced to the silt of Lake Geneva long before it was discovered in Ireland and Scotland… And then there is the music of Olof Jönsson (1867-1953) and Jonas Jönsson (1864-1951) – but principally the multitude of music – found amid the 45,000 pages left behind in the (Swedish) Folk Music Commission; music its legendary creator left behind for performance on his beloved instrument the härjedalspipa.

And even if we do go back to the source, what a wonderful way to remember Ol’Jansa than with his music – and more – performed by perhaps the finest exponent of that (and other) period flutes and recorders than Göran Månsson? And just to follow the argument of a world musical topography we are treated to a melding of harmonics between the Swedish pipes and the Japanese koto in seamless music-making that only strengthens all suggestions of a musical continuum amid a peripatetic, ever-blurring artistic diaspora.

Nevertheless even if there were others, one would be hard-pressed to find a better way to remember Ol’Jansa and make his music ever-present in the very contemporary-ness of the musical continuum that we will all eventually inhabit. And marveling at the majesty of Mr. Månsson’s virtuosity one would be remiss if one did not recognise the masterful playing of Emma Ek Ahlberg – especially on fiddle – as well as Patrik Källström on pump organ among other things and the enormous contribution of Martin Von Schmalensee beyond the world of the contrabass.

Best of all is the repertoire. It comprises some of the most elemental material from the pen of Olof Jönsson, music that he made timeless on his beloved härjedalspipa. But it has all been set in contemporary times, which also makes its near-prescient quality all the more visceral for the fact that it is as fresh today as it was when Ol’Jansa created it – and this is, of course thanks to Göran Månsson & Friends for preserving it’s forlorn sweetness and for making it new – literally out of mouthfuls of air – in a masterful composition “Al’s Car”. For this and the sheer magnificence of this recorded sound, it is hard to imagine a world without Ol’Jansa – then, now, and perhaps for always…

Track list – 1: Rallarmarsch; 2: Från Haverö till Yokohama; 3: Linus på linjen; 4: Grannen bankar; 5: Andlig visa; 6: Träpipsvalsen; 7: Hemlängtan; 8: Härjedalen; 9: Hör du flicka på ett enda ord; 10: Brudmarsch; 11: Al’s car; 12: Bosk; 13: Daggen går rätt upp å ner

Personnel – Göran Månsson: Härjedal flute, Månmarka flute, Offerdal flute, Fluto d’amore, bass recorder, percussion; Emma Ek Ahlberg: fiddle and pump organ; Patrik Källström: pump organ, fiddle and melodica; Karin Nakagawa: koto (and artwork); Martin Von Schmalensee: contrabass, guitar, electric bass and percussion (Producer and mixing); Olof Jönsson: documentary recordings (#3 and #13) from Svenskt visarkiv – The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research

Released – 2017
Label – Caprice Records
Runtime – 42:46