^{FIRST PUBLISHED 27 JUL 2025}

In this playlist, we explore the crossover between Baroque and Folk Music. Focusing on recordings by Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene alongside our interview with their director and founder Bjarte Eike this weekend, it also includes tracks from violinist Holly Harman’s recently-released album, Ground, and from Irlandiani Players albums Irlandiani and Smock Alley, the latter supported by Continuo Foundation.

With Barokksolistene, we gain insight into the music of the 17th-century English tavern, through tracks from their Alehouse Sessions and Playhouse Sessions albums where Purcell overtures are heard alongside English sea shanties, and a number of Scandinavian folk songs. An exploration of the entertainment scene of Restoration London, the tracks highlight how musicians found new outlets for music making in taverns and alehouses. Complementing these are tracks which illuminate Nordic and Slavic folk music traditions from Barokksolistene’s album, One Music, with Solamente naturali.

The playlist also pays a visit to Ireland through Irlandiani’s two albums, exploring the musical climate of Dublin in the 18th century, the Italian-Irish musical connections in the theatre district there at the time, and the compelling sound worlds that can be accessed through the combination of period and folk instruments and instrumentalists.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

TRACK LIST

1. Turlough O’Carolan Carolan’s Cup | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
2. Turlough O’Carolan, James Oswald The Fairy Queen | Holly Harman, Sid Goldsmith
3. Traditional (Danish) Three Wedding Tunes from Fanø | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
4. Traditional Rakes of Westmeath | Irlandiani, Eimear McGeown, John-Henry Baker
5. John Dowland Book of Songs (II): Flow, my Tears, Fall From Your Springs | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene, Berit Norbakken
6. John Playford Wallom Green (from the English Dancing Master) | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
7. Traditional (Norwegian) Gangar from Setesdalen | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
8. Traditional Neal – A collection of the most celebrated Irish tunes (1724): Capten Magan | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Aileen Henry
9. John Playford The Virgin Queen Set (from the English Dancing Master) | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
10. Traditional Aileen Aroon | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Poppy Walshaw
11. Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin (arr. B. Eike) Tabhair dom do lámh (Give me your hand) | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
12. Anonymous (Collection Sfantu Gheorghe, 1757) Magjar Tántz Nos 20 & 21 | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
13. Traditional (arr. B. Eike) The Three Ravens | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
14. Anonymous (Collection Uhrovec I, 1730) Asztali Nota No. 110 | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
15. Anthony Holborne Image of Melancholy | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
16. Traditional The Parting Glass | Holly Harman
17. William Shakespeare (arr. B. Eike, P. Buhre, J. Lundberg & H. A. Norbakken) The Willow Song | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
18. Anonymous Caoineadh | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Poppy Walshaw, John-Henry Baker
19. Traditional Neal – A collection of the most celebrated Irish tunes (1724): Limbrick’s Lamentation | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Eimear McGeown, Aileen Henry
20. Traditional The Canadian Set | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
21. Anonymous (Collection Uhrovec I, 1730) Daru Nota No. 263 | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
22. Sid Goldsmith Air Like Wine | Half a Shandy | Holly Harman
23. Nils Økland Travel Set | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene, Siri Dyvilk
24. Turlough O'Carolan Sí Bheag, Sí Mhor | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Eimear McGeown, Aileen Henry
25. Traditional (arr. B. Eike) Evertsbergs gamla Brudmarsch | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
26. Traditional (Norwegian) Nordafjels, rmmeslått | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
27. Traditional (arr. C. Drury) Gallway's Lament | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Poppy Walshaw, John-Henry Baker
28. Traditional Johnny Faa | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
29. Anonymous Preambulum No. 135 (Collection Uhrovec I, 1730) | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene
30. Burk Tomoth 12 Irish & 12 Scottish Airs with Variations: No. 5 Slaunt Ri Plulib | Irlandiani, Carina Drury, Eimear McGeown, Aileen Henry
31. Niel Gow (arr. B. Eike) Niel Gow’s lament for the death of his second wife | Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
32. Anonymous (Collection Uhrovec I, 1730) ‘Citera’ Dance No. 218 | Solamente naturali, Barokksolistene