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Gunner Friis
Kalejdoskop ()

The fiddler Gunner Friis is considered a pearl among pearls of Danish folk musicians, a fiddler who still regularly plays traditional music for dances around the country. Kaleidoscope presents a series of recordings, some solo, most with some of the musicians who hold him in high esteem. The CD was created as a gift to Gunner Friis on his 60th birthday in 2005.

Sheet music is available for all tracks as a PDF file on the CD
Full track notes and a list of musicians are below.

Listen:
Fanden er løs i Vildmosen
Den gamle rheinlænder
Forårsscottish

Gunner Friis says:
The people on this CD are a part of the everyday reality that surrounds and captivates me. My self-respect is founded on people's response to the traditional music I play. I will happily play with young or old, able or beginner - as long as they mean it.
As a green folk musician, I often left home with my fiddle on my back and a bad conscience in my pocket. At that time I did not realize how important my playing was to me. Now I just say,"I am married to my fiddle".

Biography.
My violin and I started as companions when, eight years old, I inherited such an instrument from my uncle on my mother's side. My father was a teacher and organist. We heard classical music at home. My brother played the flute. We often played together. I couldn't always read the notes, but hung on. In this way I learned to play what I thought sounded right.

In 1968 I started work as a conservator at the University of Aarhus, and music took a back seat for four years. Then "The Black Velvet Band" needed a fiddler. With music copied from the Dubliners, I made my stage entrance. After a few years the band changed name to "Gale Force Wind" and played Danish fiddle tunes, electrified and at break neck speed, inspired by contemporary Danish bands.

- That was my first encounter with Danish folk-music.

The Rebild Musicians came to play in Aarhus. Their musical edge hit my rhythmic sense. They played Danish as it had been played for generations. It touched me way down deep. I wanted to play like that.

- I was badly bitten.

Now we are around 1977. In evening class I learned tunes from the standard repertoire. During this period many sought instruction in folk-music, so after a few years I was teaching both evening classes and at the annual gathering in Rebild. Here I met the "old boys" including Boerge Hyldgaard and Otto Trads. I was a sort of apprentice. Several years later I was headhunted to Group 1, part of the Rebild Association. I now have 18 years of routine, playing to dance there. Now it's in my blood.

- Suddenly I am one of "the old boys".

At the same time I started playing in Aarhus Folkmusic House, where I am still active. We organized courses and events to which the tradition bearers were invited. One of them was Thomas Thomsen. I learned loads from him, and we became close friends. At that time many sought tradition, and wanted to learn from the real McCoy. Pictures from this era show the backs of musicians dressed in waistcoats, crowded around … well, you can't see … and village halls filled with steaming dancers. It is only after many years in the outer circle that I understood the meaning of bearing tradition.

- I am still learning, and always will be.

The people on this CD are a part of the everyday reality that surrounds and captivates me. My self-respect is founded on people's response to my folk-music. I will happily play with young or old, able or beginner - as long as they mean it.

As a green folk musician, I often left home with my fiddle on my back and a bad conscience in my pocket. At that time I did not realize how important my playing was to me. Now I just say, "I am married to my fiddle".

- I work for a living. Men I play to live.