Pang i Bygget

Seattle's Best Swedish Music Band

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"Pang" at Folklife, 1997.

Pang i Bygget

Pang i Bygget (literally "bang in the house") means "hit the nail on the head" or "pedal to the metal," and comes from one of our favorite Bingsjö polskas by Roger Tallroth. It's a good description of the high-energy Swedish music this group plays on fiddles, guitar, and the hauntingly beautiful nyckelharpa. Pang's members are all experienced performers and teachers, who combine a deep understanding and respect for tradition with innovative approaches to rhythm and harmony. Ranging from sweetly lyrical to hard-driving, their music reflects the joy they take in playing together, and lifts the spirits of listeners and the feet of dancers.

Pang i Bygget is:

Bart Brashers: nyckelharpa, fiddle, cowhorn, spelåpipa, näverlur. (bart@hpcc.epa.gov)

Born and partly educated in Sweden, Bart brings his fluency in language, history and culture to the group along with his musical talents. He has played nyckelharpa for 20 years, and has performed and taught all over the West Coast. He is also well known among musicians in Sweden, where he is considered one of the finest nyckelharpa players in America. He was instrumental in forming the American Nyckelharpa Association. Bart's exuberant musical energy and his pleasure in teaching are an inspiration to his students and a delight to audiences.

Peter Michaelsen: fiddle, mandolin, jaw-harp, song. (Peter_Michaelsen@idx.com)

Peter has played folk music on a variety of instruments for over 30 years, for the last twelve, concentrating solely on Swedish music. He has made numerous trips to Sweden, researching regional styles, studying at formal folk music courses, jamming and dancing. Peter is an especially sensitive and skilled player of music from Dalarna, and has performed with the Boda Spelmanslag. In the US, he has played and taught extensively at camps, dances and festivals. Peter has recently returned from spending this summer in Sweden and is full of new music and inspiration to share.
Sue Thompson: guitar, song. (speech@halcyon.com)

Sue began playing with Bart and Peter in 1995, and is becoming recognized as an exceptional guitarist for Swedish music. A performer and teacher for over 25 years, she draws on a background that includes Country, Swing, Irish and Balkan music. Her most recent recordings include the Grammy-nominated Third Annual Farewell Reunion, and the Washington Traditional Fiddler's Project. Sue's guitar playing boosts the energy and brings out the rhythmic and harmonic essence of Pang i Bygget's music.

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Comments to Bart Brashers, bart@hpcc.epa.gov