Discovering Danish Folk Music, with Maja Kjær Jacobsen
About the episode
In episode four I’m speaking with Danish fiddler Maja Kjær Jacobsen. Topics we cover in this episode includes the Danish folk scene, what its means to be a bearer of a tradition, and how to find ones musical identity.
Maja is an interesting musician. She has a strong passion for the music of Central Jutland in Denmark, at the same time as she is a very outward looking musician involved in a number of genre-crossing folk projects. I enjoyed learning about her musical journey, which brought her to places like Ireland and Norway, before eventually ending up back in Denmark. I think we touch on some interesting points when it comes to what it means to be a player of traditional music in today’s world.
Since Maja has done quite a bit of touring internationally with various folk projects, we also get into strategies for musicians wanting to break into the international folk scene.
Links
Maja’s music
Various Danish Folk Music
Gangspil - Great trio featuring music from all of Denmark
Lilian og Gitte Vammen - Accordion and piano music from Western Jutland
De Fries & D. Beck - Fiddle & piano music from Central Jutland and Fanø
Peter Uhrbrandt - Fiddle music from Fanø