The inspiration for The Garden Party is one of my favourite works by Marin Marais, the French baroque viola da gambist and composer. It's called 'Feste Champêtre." This translates as 'garden party' or 'outdoor entertainment.' It's from Suitte d'un Goût Étranger, which was published in book IV of Marais's five books of viol music.  The original is a bit of a crowd pleaser. I've tried to retain and highlight this in my version for electric viola da gamba band. (Jenny)

The Garden Party By Jenny Eriksson

Our cover of a gorgeous song by Swedish jazz legends, e.s.t.

Believe, Beleft, Below - Elysian Fields Live at Church Street Studios

A swirling ballad which tells of light and darkness, colour and shadow...the voice interplaying with the ensemble in an evocative intertwining of word-painting and music.

'Shadow' live at Church Street Studios

Elysian Fields in full groove playing "Rescue" by our bassist and composer, Siebe Pogson.  Rescue was commissioned by our Director, electric gambist Jenny Eriksson, and is a tribute to jazz-fusion guitar legend, John McLaughlin.

Rescue - Elysian Fields

Our take on this gorgeous e.s.t. love song which they recorded in both instrumental and vocal versions.  In our cover of the song vocalist Susie Bishop brings the house down on this wonderful tune by the now defunct  greats of Swedish and European jazz...Sound engineer, Jason McBride.

BELIEVE BEREFT BELOW - Elysian Fields

“Fjord line” is named after a shipping company that ferries people between Sweden and Norway. One winter during my time living and studying in Sweden I spent a fantastic week with some friends from the music school at their family cabin in the foothills of the Norwegian mountains. The initial idea for the groove and harmony came from a composition called Norway released on my first album “Moving Sea Between”. I wanted to re-explore some of my thoughts and feelings from this time from a more mature perspective. 

Elysian Fields is:

- Susie Bishop, voice and violin
- Matt Keegan, saxophones
- Jenny Eriksson, electric viola da gamba
- Matt McMahon, piano
- Siebe Pogson, bass guitar
- Finn Ryan, drums

Sound Engineer - Jason McBride

Fjord Line - by Matt Keegan

“'Cold Soul' is about the majesty and spiritual quality of some of the Scandinavian landscapes. There is something magical and beautiful about the scenery in the wintertime." (Matt Keegan)

Elysian Fields is:
Susie Bishop - violin
Matt Keegan - saxophone
Jenny Eriksson - electric viola da gamba
Matt McMahon - piano
Siebe Pogson - bass guitar
Dave Goodman - drums

Recorded live at Foundry616 by Jason McBride

Cold Soul - by Matt Keegan

Jenny Eriksson's tribute to the great 18th century French viola da gambist and composer, Marin Marais. Based on Marais' "Le Badinage". 

Elysian Fields is: 

- Susie Bishop - vocals/violin (not on this track) 
- Matt Keegan - saxophone 
- Jenny Eriksson - electric viola da gamba 
- Matt McMahon - piano 
- Siebe Pogson – bass guitar 
- Finn Ryan - drums 

Produced by Llew Kiek 
Recorded by Chris Doherty 
Mixing produced by Matt Keegan & Ritchie Belkner 
Mixed by Ritchie Belkner 
Mastered by Michael Lynch, Shoehorse Sound

"Elysian Fields" - a homage to Marin Marais by Jenny Erikson

Our mixed and mastered version of the e.s.t. song, "Believe Beleft Below" as arranged by Jenny Eriksson:

- Susie Bishop (voice)
- Matt Keegan (sax)
- Jenny Eriksson (electric viola da gamba)
- Matt McMahon (piano)
- Siebe Pogson (bass)
- Finn Ryan (drums)

Believe Beleft Below (studio version)

For Sir Thomas Wyatt is one of two songs commissioned by Jenny Eriksson for a concert at Sydney Conservatorium in October 2014. Although my background is in jazz and improvised music I’ve brought other influences and history to this project. I grew up with a love of traditional Irish music in my family and this reveals itself sometimes in my composing. Writing for the electric viola da gamba opens possibilities for the use of piano rather than theorbo (bass lute) or harpsichord because of the electric instrument’s extra projection. This allows for an approach that takes the gamba out of its traditional setting. I’ve tried to compose music that makes use of the natural qualities of the instrument but with a different sound world as its frame.  Thomas Wyatt is one of my favourite poets. I subsequently set four of his poems in a song cycle for Elysian Fields called "What should I say." (Matt McMahon)

- Jenny Eriksson, electric viola da gamba
- Matt McMahon, piano and composer
- Siebe Pogson, bass guitar
- Finn Ryan, drums

Produced by Llew Kiek, sound engineer Chris Doherty.

For Sir Thomas Wyatt

"The Journey" by Siebe Pogson is the second movement in a three movement work called "The Tragedy, The Journey and The Destination" that Siebe was commissioned to write for Elysian Fields (of which he is a member.) Live recording from the first ever performance at Foundry616 in 2018.

The Journey - Elysian Fields

The premiere live performance of this track which is part of Siebe's 3-part song cycle - The Tradgedy, The Journey, The Destination

Susie Bishop - voice/violin
Matt Keegan - sax
Jenny Eriksson - electric viola da gamba
Matt McMahon - piano
Dave Goodman - drums

Recorded live at Foundry616. Sound Engineer, Jayson McBride

The Tragedy - by Siebe Pogson

Our bass player Siebe Pogson made the arrangement of this track by Swedish guitarist, Mats Norrefalk. It appeared on our first CD, 'What should I say'.

Sax - Matt Keegan
Electric viola da gamba - Jenny Eriksson
Piano - Matt McMahon
Bass guitar - Siebe Pogson
Drums - Finn Ryan

Southern Cross by Mats Norrefalk

Elysian Fields is an improvised music group built around the electric viola da gamba.  Band members are:

- Susie Bishop, voice and violin
- Matt Keegan, sax
- Jenny Eriksson, electric viola da gamba
- Matt McMahon, piano
- Brett Hirst, bass
- Rease Cameron, drums

Elysian Fields

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