Feb 2022 lullaby swedish dulcimer hammereddulcimer non-english
In further trying to stretch myself, I wanted to try to write something in Swedish, which is a language I've sung in for many years. It seemed like a lullaby would be an attainable one to do, I also wanted it to not be for a baby, but for a partner.
While doing it, it became clear to me that I had to get the hammered dulcimer out and add it to the instrumental. I have been playing the ukulele more recently, but I've been playing the dulcimer for over 20 years, but I'm rusty (and I had to tune it, which took 30 minutes!)
And I got the Week 1 Challenge covered!
(C) 2022 BeaconBeats Music
NOTE: Fixed the Swedish grammar and I redid the demo to give a solo hammered dulcimer verse.
Sov min käraste, säg inget ljud
Ligg och sov, huvud mot huvud
Din hand i min och ande til ande
Jag ser din själ i ditt leende
English Translation:
Sleep my dearest, make no sound
Lie down and sleep, head to head
Your hand in mine and spirit to spirit
I see your soul in your smile
@jonmeta Mar 2022
Wow, I love the sound of the hammered dulcimer in general and this one in particular. This one has a particular kind of "beating" between slightly detuned unisons that's very organic, a kind of drone that's like breathing. Goes with the images of sleep. I (like you, I suppose, with a name like Mattson) have this heritage and have learned a few Swedish songs. This is beautiful, both in the lyrical images (love "ande til ande" and seeing her/his soul in the smile. Wow) and melody.
@dragondreams Mar 2022
I was instantly entranced by the melody on that dulcimer! Then the wonderful song itself. I'm not a Swedish speaker, but it sounded very relaxing and restful. :-)
@sheilerk Mar 2022
I particularly love adult lullabies. This is so sweet and loving. It would be lovely to drift to sleep by, especially as times are so harrowing in the world right now. I also love the Swedish verse. One of my sets of grandparents were Swedish, but I never heard a Swedish lullaby. The Hammered Dulcimer couldn't have been a more perfect sound for this song. I just love it!
#listeningskirmish
@ambroise Mar 2022
Very majestic and mysterious. The rythm reminds me of baroque music. But the resonance of the hammered dulcimer brings a stregn chaman-y feeling to me. Both majestic and mysterious are surely linked to the slow playing that you used.
I went to listen again to some of Arve Henriksen's work for comparison, because it arouses very similar emotion in me.
@sheslin Feb 2022
How lovely to hear the hammer dulcimer! Love the melody and the gorgeous vocals and great harmonies. What a traditional sounding lullaby. Impressive to be able to write and sing in Swedish. Well done!
@natalie Feb 2022
Ahhhhh... the sound of your voice! So beautiful and soothing in any language. The harmonies and sound system of the language are bringing me back to the days of my youth. (My family were Swedish immigrants to Minnesota, and many of them were also musically inclined.) I'm so glad that you stretched yourself in this direction! It's a lovely piece! Great that there were some Swedish FAWMers kind enough to help you with the words, too.
@nancycunning Feb 2022
This is lovely. I like the feeling of being entranced without knowing the words. Maybe that's what lullabies feel like to babies.
@improvyssey Feb 2022
So pretty! This is simple and effective. The hammered dulcimer is lovely and ethereal, and it's nice to hear you singing in Swedish. Since you gave us a preview of the tune before the lyrics started, I could sing along with you. What a nice piece to stumble upon this evening.
@oldlostjohn Feb 2022
Wow, beautiful! That celestial tone of the hammered dulcimer is so just right for the lyrics. The Swedish isn't 100%, but that's somehow quite charming. (It should be "inget ljud" and "ditt leende", Depends on the gender of the nouns.)
@johnpeekstok Feb 2022
Beautifully done. I've been playing Swedish folk music for the last several years, so it's nice to hear some here! And hammered dulcimer! A man after my own heart.
@kristi Feb 2022
Lovely. To hear this sung in Swedish is so lovely! What a gentle & meaningful lullaby. You sing it with such care and I really enjoyed those harmonies too.
@sph Feb 2022
When everything fits: song, instrumentation, pace and singing. Lovely tune.
@analogj Feb 2022
Hammered dulcimer, Ken?? I had no idea you could play it. COOL!
I love this song. So simple. And in some ways, it's one of your strongest. You're SO much in the pocket on this one! It shows that sometimes simple is better. GREAT one!
For some reason, though, I want to rush out to the local IKEA store and buy some meatballs.
@aeye Feb 2022
that hammered ducilmer sounds so good. I love how they just resonate and sustain. This is excellent all around.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Gorgeous! And, yes, of course it wanted the hammered dulcimer! When I was in high school I was a major fan of Swedish folk music (somewhat randomly), so it's wonderful to hear it sung. Nicely produced here, too!
@chipwithrow Feb 2022
I love a lullaby - wrote many of them when my daughter (now 20) was a child.
You have such a wonderful voice (voices)! And such a sweet and unique instrument choice. I'm giving a second listen now.
@oaksnprairie Feb 2022
Very soothing and beautiful. The Swedish and the dulcimer complement each other well.
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
wow, this is really impressive! the sound of that hammer dulcimer is just majestic, and really evocative. The vocal is warm and rich and while of course I don't speak a word of Swedish, the 'lullaby' theme comes thru loud and clear.
@pumpkinhead Feb 2022
You got the words just right and also the spirit. It sounds very hymn like a century ago which adds a nice layer to the lyrics. maybe even layers. Well done.
Peace
@eas3637 Feb 2022
I love the backstory behind this song, Ken - and such a great choice to write a lullaby love song. Your voice sounds beautiful on this stunning composition.
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
This is gorgeous, Ken! Jag ser din själ i din leende WOW! There is soul in this song, too.
@midwayfair Feb 2022
This is really beautiful. Really suits your voice, too.
@emplate Feb 2022
Sverige works well in this, fits the mood properly. Also a nice idea to write a lullaby for a partner instead of a baby.
@nicetrip Feb 2022
Nice lullaby. I think that lullubies in core are international phenomenon. You don't need to know words, it's a kind of magic in melody that makes you feel calm and safe.
@jtsteam Feb 2022
The dulcimer sounds so cool! I bet they're fun to tune... I've just looked them up and I had no idea a hammered dulcimer had so many strings. I see why you felt it was necessary, it's just right for this tune.
@pianoonthepatio Feb 2022
Aah I love the dulcimer! And I love the part when you started harmonizing with the low notes in your vocals. It has a really nice Celtic vibe. Thanks for sharing!
@cloudhopper Feb 2022
väldigt fin vacker låt
@gregwere Feb 2022
Dulcimer hey, nice work, reminds of a Celtic ballad lovely tune. Could imagine with a choral group. Lovely.
@davidbreslin101 Feb 2022
....I've played this 3 times now. Just wow. I'd never though of hammered dulcimer as a warm, comforting instrument before, but it is here.
@liz561 Feb 2022
Wow Ken-love the harmonies and the dulcimer! Very atmospheric.
@chroes Feb 2022
This is so lovely! I think I haven't heard s song in Swedish before, your performance of it is beautiful. I especially liked when the second voice swept in. The dulcimer has a really cool sound that I enjoyed.
@nadine Feb 2022
I like the sound of the Swedish language. This suits so well to your sweet lullaby! Ok, so this is a Dulcimer? I never heard this instrument and it sounds a bit like a harp or a super hammered mandolin. Fun!
@davidtaro Feb 2022
Wow, dulcimer. That alone makes this a noteworthy addition to this year’s FAWM. Then you chuck in Swedish lyrics, you crazy maverick you!! I’m really glad I stopped by, it’s a very beautiful melody, the atmosphere of the song is great, and your classical vocal background really shines through. Well done!
@fuzzy Feb 2022
Oh, really great dulcimer work here, perfectly complimented by your Swedish vocals.
Really great job!
@leslie333 Feb 2022
Beautiful! Glad you got your dulcimer out, it sounds great with a lullaby.
@arthurrossi Feb 2022
The dulcimer is lovely, and I like the tender melody and your voice sounds awesome! To me, it was also the first time to hear a song on Swedish here in FAWM. Enjoyed it a lot...
@ofishell Feb 2022
I am fascinated by Scandinavian languages, and I think this is the first Swedish song I've heard on FAWM. I adore it. Your tone is beautiful, and your accent, to my ears, sounds spot on. The dulcimer is lovely, and makes me wish I had one of my own!
@gardeningangel1 Feb 2022
I was rambling the forums when I should have been going to bed & found the hammered dulcimer thread (which is a hoot!) and ended up here. Your voice is so tender and the lyrics so sweet. Gently rocked by that age-old sound. What a lovely way to end my day.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Very nice, love the dulcimer. Great choice to sing in swedish. I can hear this with a big choir! Top stuff
@adnama17 Feb 2022
Absolutely beautiful. I am Swedish (among many other things) also, but I never learned to speak it. A major mistake I realize now! Dig the harmony when it kicks in. <3
@elesimo Feb 2022
This is so lovely, Ken! Absolutely beautiful. I'm listening to it by the fireplace and it's just perfect.