Darkwood Consort
Gig Seeker Pro

Darkwood Consort

Band Classical Classical

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"DARKWOOD CONSORT NORDISK VINTER CONCERT"

It's not every day that one gets up close and personal with a bass clarinet. This can be
remedied by attending a performance by Boise's own Darkwood Consort.
Sunday, January 16 was a perfect day for a "Nordisk Vinter" concert. Downtown at the Esther
Simplot Performing Arts Academy, Darkwood Consort - Aage Nielsen and Jennifer Drake, a bass
clarinet and viola duo- wowed the crowd with a selection of music from Denmark, Sweden, Finland,
Norway and Iceland. The performance covered a spectrum spanning centuries, and styles from the
merry 14th century traditional Swedish tune "Bereden veg for Herran" to selections from
heavyweights like Greig, to the song "Unisano Lag," translated as 'in unison, without meter' and
which the group assured us perfectly represented Iceland in the eighties. Darkwood also treated
the crowd to "Molbrok", a traditional danish tune that sounds much like "The Bear Went Over the
Mountain," as well as 1287's "Die Tenschen Morder" ("the Danish Murderers") , which Darkwood
played while serving as house band for Boise Contemporary Theater's staging of "Dracula."
Though one might expect gravity, even stuffiness, from a classical performance, such
expectations were banished immediately by the friendly, informal banter of Darkwood's members.
They shook hands with random audience members before the performance began, displayed an
easygoing, good-natured impatience with latecomers, frequently joked with the crowd and paused
between tunes to give background on each piece. Pronounced "shameless" by Drake, Nielsen
also took a moment to share Darkwood's big news- they will perform at the 33rd International Viola
Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland- and to plug their Benefit Concert on February 20th. (More
information is available at www.darkwoodconsort.com)
Darkwood Consort's relaxed bearing was by no means unprofessional, just comfortable, and
therefore very enjoyable indeed. When they play their music, Darkwood is all business.

The first half of the performance was a melange of traditional songs, medieval pieces and 20th
century compositions. Short, varied and always interesting, it was perfect for the
Darkwood-uninitiated. There was a stampede during the short intermission to go get the delicious
and complimentary snacks provided by the Scandinavian Society of Southwest Idaho. After that, it
was time to take our seats for the second half of the concert- reserved for Scandinavian
composers of note. Saving the best for last, the concert highlight was selections from Greig's Peer
Gynt Suite. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" was Darkwood's final tune of the afternoon, and Aage
Nielsen could hardly contain his excitement, announcing that it was "time for the heavy artillery."
Anyone familiar
with "Mountain Kng" knows that it builds to a frenzied and satisfying final resolution-much like
Darkwood Consort's performance. We clapped until our hands hurt. - Boise Weekly


Discography

LP: Faith and Hope are Playing (2002)
LP: Cafe Musik (2006)

Receiving national airplay in Australia, Darkwood Consort's second album "Cafe Musik" is played on the Australian Broadcast Network, to help dispel road rage! Many other singles have been played on Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Idaho public radio stations. Both albums are available on iTunes. Listen more at www.myspace.darkwoodconsort.com

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Darkwood Consort has been performing for 15 years. The past three years have found Aage and Jen in venues such as the Detroit Insititute of the Arts, the Nordic Heritage Museum, the International Viola Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland and the World Bass Clarinet Convention in Rotterdam, Holland. Darkwood combines classical music with a friendly 'folk-band" presentation that puts audiences at ease. Audience members who thought that they weren't going to like a classical music concert love Darkwood Consort. "We clapped until our hands hurt!" says Sara Beitia, of the Boise Weekly.