Norrbottens-Kuriren 140518
By: TOBIAS LUNDEQVIST
When the buds open and there’s ripple in the brook, all choirs come leaping out of their rehearsal rooms. Luleå Chamber Choir, celebrating 50 years, is no exception.
The compere jokes about five decades of practicing, coffee drinking and singing. Tonight they stand on the big stage in the House of Culture and sing about spring. Helen Sjöholm is also there, beloved, professional and pleasant in the way that is in accordance with any unwritten rule. We are offered music that suits everyone who doesn’t like heavy beat tones but love what is kind to the ear.
Sjöholm sings with a naturality as if it was about breathing only and acts on stage in the same experienced way. It’s the product of massive work. A life in music and song. The role she’s fought for she manages with great respect for her audience. She sings ”Vårvindar friska”, nicely arranged as though Jan Johansson himself temporarily has taken place in pianist Martin Östergren’s body. It turns out to be the start of a multi-cultural medley where Swedish ballads are crossed with a general conglomeration of the American music styles which Swedish musicians hold so high.
The choir continues with its style of general European choral tradition. A legacy descending directly from the monastery residents who once set the stone rolling. It sounds great, it’s beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the thought of all these people who in rain or shine and rough weather, snow, cold and darkness devote their spare time to practice and perform with their choirs. One of the singers who has been a member for 42 years, notes that her motivation has been the solidarity. To be a part of something. To breathe together. She also met her partner for 30 years in the choir.
When spring comes they stand there, singing old hits and trying to find new ones. Songs that whisper about a poor peasant people suffering in a muddy field. Songs that shout out various petty Svensson’s fortunes and adventures. A little Benny Andersson, a little folk song, a little Christianity, easy on the ear and maybe some very careful challenge of the norm that the context carries. So is the evening. Average choir entertainment for an audience who feel very seen.
We leave the room with the feeling that everything is in order, after clapping on the first and third beat of the tone to the Swedish charts hit song ”Du är min man”. A pause for breath.