Help Jenny and Siebe record Australia’s first electric viola da gamba CD. Tax deductible donations at: https://australianculturalfund.org.au/projects/the-viola-da-gamba-is-electrifying/
Elysian Fields, Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble, features a relatively rare mother and son pairing in viola da gambist, Jenny Eriksson, and her son, bassist and composer, Siebe Pogson (see photo). Eriksson, is one of Australia’s best-known acoustic viola da gambists – a 7 string, fretted instrument about the same size as a cello. A life time proponent of classical music, she took up the electric viola da gamba just four years ago. “I was ready for a bit of a change”, Eriksson commented, “I wanted to branch out into new styles and new sounds but I still play the acoustic viola da gamba virtually every day.”
Early on in this musical journey she thought that Siebe would write well for her new instrument so she commissioned him to compose an electric bass/electric viola da gamba duo called “Dark Dreaming” which over time morphed into a piece for the full 6 piece Elysian Fields band.
Siebe has been surrounded by music as long as he can remember. Both his parents are graduates of Sydney Conservatorium who then undertook advanced musical studies in Europe. Jenny was, and is, active in music education, even conducting the school orchestra at the local Primary School while Siebe was a student and learning cello. When Pogson completed his degree at “The Con” three years ago, he became the third member of his family to graduate from this highly-regarded institution.
“Mum was always practicing and rehearsing of course,” Siebe commented, “So the house was full of music and talk about music!” “I started learning cello at three years old then moved to piano and finally, electric bass guitar when I was in junior high school.” Siebe now makes his living as an electric bassist, composer, arranger and piano teacher.
Performing together in Elysian Fields, the band Eriksson formed with jazz legends Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon, has been an interesting challenge for mother and son. In classical music, Jenny is a nationally recognised expert but in the modern jazz Elysian Fields plays, the younger musician’s skills come to the fore. “Siebe has given me a lot of coaching in jazz ensemble, rhythm and even harmony”, Jenny relates, “It’s a new world for me but he is a very patient teacher.”
Elysian Fields has been wowing audiences with their unique sound and gorgeous compositions. Sydney Morning Herald music critic, John Shand, rated a recent gig 8.5/10 and wrote:
“Here was a head-spinning dialogue between half a millennium ago and now, and a sound as foreign as dreaming someone else’s dreams. It emanated from Jenny Eriksson’s electric viola da gamba, the only example in Australia….
Jenny and Siebe’s vision is to create Australia’s first CD of original music for electric viola da gamba and jazz ensemble and they have launched a crowd-funding campaign to help make it happen.
“This is an amazing opportunity to take the viola da gamba, one of the Western world’s oldest instruments, into the 21st century”, Jenny believes, “And it’s being done right here, in Sydney.” “There are very few electric viola da gamba players around the world and only a limited number of recordings have been released.” Featured composers include Siebe and Jenny along with band members Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon, both renowned composers and arrangers with international reputations.
Supporters can make a fully tax-deductible donation through the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF). The ACF is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. Managed by Creative Partnerships Australia, it was established by the Australian Government in 2003 to encourage donations to the arts. Donations at: https://australianculturalfund.org.au/projects/the-viola-da-gamba-is-electrifying/
Contact
Jenny Eriksson – jennyeriksson212@gmail.com; 0412 459 155
