{"id":10526,"date":"2021-03-11T01:52:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T01:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/?p=10526"},"modified":"2022-11-18T08:17:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T08:17:05","slug":"min-on-music-journey-no-28-sweden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/fr\/10526\/min-on-music-journey-no-28-sweden\/","title":{"rendered":"Min-On Music Journey No. 28: The Kingdom of Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Min-On&rsquo;s Music Journey! Today, the Min-On Concert Association and the Embassy of Sweden in Japan welcome you to the Kingdom of Sweden in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9Lola Akinmade \u00c5kerstr\u00f6m\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, and the public widely supports the royal family. Sweden began making major efforts to become a welfare state many decades ago, and it was the first country in the world to include paternity leave alongside maternity leave in 1974. It has also implemented extensive social welfare programs, including reduced medical expenses, free education for children aged 6 to 19 and nursing homes for the elderly.<\/p>\n<p>Sweden is a global leader in innovation and is the birthplace of successful companies including the fashion brand H&amp;M, the furniture retailer IKEA and the music streaming service Spotify.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The capital of Stockholm, City of Water<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden2-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9Ola Ericson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>Sweden&rsquo;s capital, Stockholm, is the largest city in Scandinavia, spanning the mainland and 14 small islands on the Baltic Sea. The old and new city districts that appear to float on the water are beautiful in every season, earning the city the nickname the \u00ab\u00a0City of Water\u00a0\u00bb and the \u00ab\u00a0Venice of the North.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy an aerial view of Stockholm in this video.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eK6SU-rFtUs?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011Stockholm from above\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Ola Ericson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>The Nobel Prize Museum was built in the 18th century in the heart of Gamla Stan, Stockholm&rsquo;s historic district, which features many examples of medieval architecture. Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite and one of Sweden&rsquo;s foremost inventors. As requested in his will, his assets funded the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Foundation has held the award ceremony every year on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel&rsquo;s death (December 10) since 1901. The Foundation presents the prize to the person who has made the greatest contribution to the world in the fields of physics, literature, peace, chemistry and medicine. Currently, the ceremony takes place at the Stockholm Concert Hall, with a subsequent reception banquet at Stockholm City Hall. The museum provides a detailed look at Alfred Nobel&rsquo;s life and the history of the Prize through guided tours, videos and exhibits.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden3-1024x727.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"727\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Nobel Prize Museum\u00a0<\/em><em>\u00a9Ola Ericson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10532\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden4-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Nobel Prize Award Ceremony\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9 Nobel Media AB 2015. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud<\/p>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10535\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden7-1024x951.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"951\" \/><br \/>\n<\/em><em>Stockholm City Hall\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Jann Lipka\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>The warship Vasa was built as the pride of the Swedish Navy, but sadly sank along just 1,400 meters into her maiden voyage from Stockholm Harbor on August 10, 1628. After many failed attempts, its enormous hull was finally salvaged in 1961 and is now on display at the Vasa Museum.<\/p>\n<p>Stockholm is home to more than 100 history and art museums. The city is overflowing with history, culture and the beauty of nature, as seen in places like Drottningholm Palace, the Christmas Market, the Stockholm Archipelago and its over 20,000 islands of various sizes, the Skansen Open-Air Museum and ABBA: The Museum.<\/p>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden8-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n<\/em><em>The warship Vasa on display at the Vasa Museum\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Ola Ericson\/imagebank.sweden.se<em>\u3000\u3000<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10537\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden9-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Drottningholm Palace\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>\u00a9 Melker Dahlstrand\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden10-1024x688.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"688\" \/><br \/>\n<em>The Christmas Market, a Swedish winter tradition \u00a9Ulf Lundin\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The fortified city of Visby on Sweden&rsquo;s largest Baltic island of Gotland was originally developed as a viking stronghold. Some say the city&rsquo;s medieval stone walls and streets lined with orange-roofed houses served as inspiration for the setting of Studio Ghibli&rsquo;s animated film <em>Kiki&rsquo;s Delivery Service<\/em> (1989).<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy the scenery of Stockholm through the video below:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wLnknoB5bA4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011Visby City wall\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Benjamin Cotton\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gothenburg, a city of beautiful canals<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>King Gustav II Adolf built the port city of Gothenburg in 1961. It became a center for trade during the Age of Discovery and prospered as a gateway to the North Sea. Today, Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden. It houses the headquarters of major companies, including Volvo cars and camera company Hasselblad, attracting business from all over the world.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10539\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden11-1024x550.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"550\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Port of Gothenburg\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9G\u00f6ran Assner\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>Gothenburg\u2019s busting city center features a number of beautiful canals. It&rsquo;s also filled with stylish restaurants and cafes where visitors can savor the bounty of both land and sea, including fresh seafood, meat and vegetables. Other popular destinations include the Gothenburg Museum of Art, praised as a treasure trove of contemporary Swedish art, and Liseberg Amusement Park, the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia, named one of the top ten amusement parks in the world by Forbes magazine in 2005.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden12-copy-1024x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Young people at a cafe (left)\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Faramarz Gosheh\/imagebank.sweden.se<br \/>\nFresh seafood (right)\u00a0\u00a9Tina Stafr\u00e9n\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden14-1024x679.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Liseberg Amusement Park in winter\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Per Pixel Petersson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scandinavian indigenous culture and mother nature<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The nomadic, reindeer-herding Sami people of Scandinavia live in the northernmost part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, within the Arctic Circle (66\u00b0 33\u2019 N latitude). This region is called Lapland and spans four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sami people have preserved a traditional way of life for thousands of years in a harsh, cold environment, living alongside reindeer with thick fur coats. They move their tents from season to season to follow the sun and changing natural environment, and they\u2019re known as the \u00ab\u00a0people of the sun and wind.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden15-copy-1024x349.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"349\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9Lola Akinmade \u00c5kerstr\u00f6m\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10543\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden17-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9Tina Stafr\u00e9n\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>The Sami people set up stalls and hold the Jokkmokk Winter Market every year for a week around the second Thursday of February in Jokkmokk of the Lapland region. This market has been held for over 400 years, making it the oldest of its kind held in the Scandinavian Arctic. Visitors can experience firsthand many aspects of Sami culture here, including items like <em>kuksa<\/em> (cups carved from birch burls), accessories embroidered with tin thread and handicrafts made from reindeer bones and pelts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden18-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Jokkmokk Winter Market\u00a0 <\/em><em>\u3000<\/em>\u00a9Asaf Kliger\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10545\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden19-copy-1024x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Traditional Sami handicrafts\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Tina Stafr\u00e9n\/imagebank.sweden.se (left)<br \/>\n\u00a9Jessica Lindgren\/imagebank.sweden.se (right)<\/p>\n<p>People also come to Lapland from across the globe to experience marvels of nature like the awe-inspiring aurora borealis or the Ice Hotel, carved entirely out of ice. Many travelers also visit for winter sports like skiing, and Lapland is very active despite its frigid temperatures.<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy footage of the aurora borealis in the video below.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xUKchGkUq88?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011Northern Lights above lake B\u00e4cksj\u00f6n in Ume\u00e5, Northern Sweden\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Fredrik Larsson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden21-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9Asaf Kliger\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10547\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden22-copy-1024x359.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"359\" \/><br \/>\n<em>The Ice Hotel, a frozen work of art<br \/>\n<\/em>\u00a9 Asaf Kliger\/imagebank.sweden.se (left)<br \/>\n\u00a9Hans-Olof Utsi\/imagebank.sweden.se (right)<\/p>\n<p><strong>The diverse culture of Swedish daily life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sweden has a custom called <em>fika<\/em>, which means \u00ab\u00a0coffee break\u00a0\u00bb in Swedish. Several times a day, people gather with family, co-workers or friends to enjoy conversation over coffee served with sweets. Some of the most common treats served during <em>fika<\/em> include <em>semla<\/em> (buns filled with almond paste and lightly sweet whipped cream), cinnamon buns and waffles.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fika<\/em> provides an opportunity to pause for a moment and refresh your body and mind at home or work, no matter how busy you are. It also provides a space for communication between people regardless of social standing. <em>Fika<\/em> is much more than just a break; it is a restorative key for living a fuller life passed down from ancient times, and an essential part of Swedish culture.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10548\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden24-copy-1024x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9 Emelie Asplund\/imagebank.sweden.se (left) \u00a9 Simon Paulin\/imagebank.sweden.se (right)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10549\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden26-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9 Magnus Liam Karlsson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>Swedish people often have orchards or vegetable gardens near their homes. Because of the harsh climate, they have devised many ways of preserving food\u2014fresh fruit is made into jam, vegetables are pickled, meat and fish are smoked, and more.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden27-copy-1024x469.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"469\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Smoked salmon and jam<br \/>\n<\/em>\u00a9Lola Akinmade \u00c5kerstr\u00f6m\/imagebank.sweden.se (left)<br \/>\n\u00a9 Miriam Preis\/imagebank.sweden.se (right)<\/p>\n<p>The Swedish people have enjoyed eating crayfish since ancient times. Each August when fishing season begins, people gather at crayfish parties to share platters piled high with crayfish for a fun Swedish summer tradition!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden29-copy-1024x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Crayfish party\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9Carolina Romare\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p><strong>Swedish music culture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Min-On has hosted many musicians from Sweden, including the Royal Swedish Opera Chorus (1984), the Norrk\u00f6ping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Junichi Hirokami (1994) and Barbara Hendricks (2006).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10552\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden31-1024x689.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"689\" \/><br \/>\n<em>The Royal Swedish Opera Chorus (1984)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10553\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden32-copy-1024x344.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"344\" \/><br \/>\n<em>The Norrk\u00f6ping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Junichi Hirokami (1994, left) and Barbara Hendricks (2006, right) <\/em><\/p>\n<p>We would now like to feature a performance from the 2013 concert of the Swedish a cappella choir the Svanholm Singers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Svanholm Singers <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Svanholm Singers is an a cappella male chamber choir formed in Sweden in 1998. They won the grand prix at the Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest in Japan in 1999, and they&rsquo;ve also performed in Japan many times. The choir represents their unique homeland with their mysterious harmonies that evoke the power, delicate beauty and midnight sun of Scandinavia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Svanholm Singers &#8211; Let It Snow<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZoZHIEmia2g?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011\u201cLet It Snow\u201d| Svanholm Singers | Okayama\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Next, we&rsquo;ll highlight a song from a 2016 Min-On concert featuring soprano jazz singer Margareta Bengtson.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Margareta Bengtson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After serving as the lead singer for the five-member vocal ensemble The Real Group for over 20 years, Margareta Bengtson began her career as a solo singer in 2006. Her first solo album, <em>I&rsquo;m Old Fashioned<\/em>, was a big hit not just in Scandinavia but also in Japan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Margareta Bengtson &#8211; Leaving London, Seeing Stockholm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TCIDwv5LRL4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011\u201cLeaving London Seeing Stockholm\u201d| Margareta Bengtson | Tokyo\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Finally, please enjoy a piece from the 2018 concert of Swedish Harmony, a group formed by string ensemble Musica Vitae and choral ensemble Vokalharmonin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Musica Vitae<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This string ensemble&rsquo;s mission is to play \u00ab\u00a0music that expresses life\u00a0\u00bb during their performances. They have performed in many foreign countries like China, the US, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and Spain in addition to their home country, and they&rsquo;re often featured in the media on Internet news sites and newspapers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vokalharmonin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This choral ensemble was founded in 2004 to explore new sounds and vocal techniques. Fredrik Malmberg has served as the group&rsquo;s artistic director since its founding and is one of Sweden&rsquo;s most accomplished choir directors. In 2012, he was appointed not only head conductor of the Sweden&rsquo;s most prestigious chamber choir, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, but also professor of Choral Conducting at the Stockholm Royal College of Music.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Musica Vitae &amp; Vokalharmonin &#8211; ABBA Medley\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M_ay7mAJ4bY?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen title=\"\u3010Min-On Music Journey\u3011\u201cABBA Medley\u201d| SWEDEN HARMONY| Tokyo\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>H.E. Mr. Pereric H\u00f6gberg, Ambassador of the Embassy of Sweden in Japan, will introduce you to his recommended three groups of musicians. We hope you enjoy this music from Sweden!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden33_HE-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"760\" height=\"443\" \/><br \/>\n<strong>H.E. Mr. Pereric H\u00f6gberg<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Ambassador of the Embassy of Sweden in Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(1) Erik Westberg Vokalensemble<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden34-1024x590.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"590\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Swedish choir sound is acknowledged globally for its light tonality and non-vibrato, and Swedish choir composers often have this particular light sound in mind. One of Sweden\u2019s great contemporary composers was Sven-David Sandstr\u00f6m. A few years ago, he wrote a wonderful choir piece called Four Songs of Love. Here the excellent Swedish Choir Erik Westbergs Vokalensemble is performing one of those songs, Until the Daybreak. I recommend you listen to all four songs, and spend some time on Spotify to discover more of this brilliant choir.<\/p>\n<p>Please see below to listen to\u00a0<em>Songs of Love<\/em> by Erik Westberg Vokalensemble on Spotify<\/p>\n<p><strong>(2) Lars Jansson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10556\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden35.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Swedish jazz pianist Lars Jansson is already well known to a large part of the Japanese Jazz audience. Jansson-san is a melody wizard, and he is one of those few musicians and composers that seem to have an endless source of simple and totally natural melodies coming out of his head and fingers. Here his trio is performing one of my absolute favorite tunes, More Human. Apart from streaming on Spotify, this record is also available in Japan produced and spread by the great Japanese jazz record company Spice of Life.<\/p>\n<p>Please see below to listen to <em>More Human<\/em> by Lars Jansson on Spotify<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" title=\"Spotify Embed: More Human\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/6W1wdBSGre9ALjpaAnZOlA?si=IdFipPKsR_SSpyu_ZjVrOg&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>(3) Sofia Jannok<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10557\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden36-1024x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sofia Jannok is a Swedish Sami artist, singer and songwriter. Her music is inspired by folk, pop, jazz and the music tradition of the Sami people in the very northern parts of Sweden. I really like this song where she is using a traditional Sami singing technique called \u201dyoik.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Please see below to listen to <em>Arvas<\/em> by Sofia Jannok on Spotify<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cBy the way, perhaps you didn\u2019t know that Spotify is a Swedish company. Thanks to Spotify\u2019s great innovations and streaming technique all music genres, composers and artists have become so much more available. Wherever we are\u2014in Japan, Sweden or anywhere on the planet.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>H.E. Mr. Pereric H\u00d6GBERG<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-10558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sweden37-1024x736.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"736\" \/><br \/>\n\u00a9 Per Pixel Petersson\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/p>\n<p>What did you think of your music journey to Sweden? There are still many more places to go! Please look forward to our next destination.<\/p>\n<p>Min-On Concert Association<\/p>\n<p>\uff0dMusic Binds Our Hearts\uff0d<\/p>\n<p>(Produced in collaboration with Embassy of Sweden and Image Bank Sweden, which provided photos.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Min-On&rsquo;s Music Journey! 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