Please listen to our sound tracks under Our Music and learn of our historical heritage and programs on the other links!
Leif Rosqvist, a journalist from Portland Ore, USA has written an article about the history of brass Sextets in Sweden including the Sigtuna Brass Sextet. You will find his article under Archives. There you will also find newspaper links, references on other websites and pictures from our performances and travels.
The instruments used in the sextet are from the early brass sextet period, ie from 1800’s and early 1900’s. – and indigenous to Sweden . The instruments were constructed to present a mellow singing sound which can produce the softest and tender concepts as well as the pompous. The brass instruments have a rotary valve construction with the third valve being unique for Sweden. The instruments are either tuned in Eb or Bb and all parts are written in G-clef. The original idea was that any brass musician could play any of the brass instruments using the same fingerings and reading the same notes. One of our current musicians can actually play all the instruments, the others being more specialized, which is presently more the norm. A modern tuba adaptation utilizes the F tuba with ‘Berliner pumpen’ as valves and parts in bass clef.
The Sigtuna Brass Sextet utilizes a colorful and bravura Eb cornet, the festive Bb cornet and trumpet, Eb horn, the solo and obligato Bb tenor basun, a second basun, F tuba, and trapset drummer. This combination provides all the ingredients for a full sound in most situations and musical traditions.
The Sigtuna Brass Sextet includes long-time established musicians with experience from the career military bands, Swedish professional musician core, Stockholm Opera orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Orchestra, established dance bands, famous big bands and show bands (Harry Arnold, Harry James, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr, Monika Zetterlund, Björn Skifs, Tommy Körberg, etc), teachers at community culture schools and associate professors at music universities.
The traditional repertoire includes adapted bravura operatic excerpts, military marches, folk dances, symphony orchestra adaptations, troubadour songs, folk songs, sacral works, established show tunes, beer-drinking songs, and imported Dixie and jazz tunes, etc. The sextet is especially partial to maintaining the traditions established by Bellman, Taube and Adolphson which seem to portray the Swedish heart during their contemporary periods. The repertoire has always kept up with the times so the listener will recognize many of the current favorites.
The Sigtuna Brass Sextet currently has the following programs available:
Dreaming of Elin – a delightful immigration story
A glass-blowing family from Karlstad, Sweden finds the going tough especially after their factory closes and some explore opportunities in America. Loved ones are left behind and dreams of a bright future dominate. One has an intriguing love experience. The performance includes music current during this period in Sweden and America.
The Royal Ball – in honor of the wedding of the Royal Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden we proudly present a portrayal of the festive ball following the wedding ceremony based on the poem of Gustaf Fröding. The portrayal includes a personal experience of attending such a ball including the embarrassing and magnificent with all the ballroom dances, procedures and introductions appropriate at such an event. The highlight is the entrance of the wedding couple and the appropriate fanfares, The Royal Family song and special solo sung by our guest artist Björn, baritone. The poem also depicts many of the aspects of Swedish life, values and even of life dreams and appreciations of the life hereafter.
Remembering Bellman, Taube and Adolphson
Guest artist Björn Sjögren portrays highlights from the major Swedish troubadours reflecting life felt at the deepest level in the Swedish heart from 1780 – 1980.
Scandinavian Folk dances
A collection of much loved dances including the hambo, schottis, waltz, polka, Finnish tango and two-step for dancing and listening pleasure.
Traditional Promenade Park Concert
The Sunday afternoon promenade concert in the park is a summer institution in Sweden with all the traditional contents of marches, overtures, waltzes, solo numbers, folk songs and dances, novelties, etc. The repertoire is from the early 1800’s to modern time.
Sweden Loves America Loves Sweden
Since the early 1900’s Sweden has fallen in love with many songs from America and we have learned of many songs from Sweden that America loves as well. Highlights from the early 1900’s like Over There’and Yankee Doodle Dandy, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Beer Barrel Polka, The Saints go marching in etc, then 30’s – 80’s jazz, and finally current favorites.
The sextet also makes tailor-made programs for special occasions.
We strive to not play faster than the listener can hear and enjoy!
Please feel free to contact us by email: info@sigms.se
The Sigtuna Brass Sextet, a non-profit organisation since 1967, originating from the oldest municipality (980 A.D.) of Sweden is dedicated to maintaining the rich brass traditions established since the early 1800’s in Sweden. Often military trained, brass musicians established a broad cultural function providing music for a village Saturday night dance, Sunday morning church service, Sunday afternoon park music, holiday festivals, government and formal ceremonies, entertainment programs, special theme concerts, school commencements, weddings, funerals, anniversaries etc.
Our Uniform
The sextet wears the Swedish military captain’s uniform from the late 1700’s. Unique are the three buttons on the sleeves which represent the three kingdoms of Sweden at the time – Sweden , Norway and Finland . When the Swedish army surrendered to the Russian army after a brief battle outside of Helsinki , Finland in 1809, Finland was released to Russia . Many of the Swedish officers did not support the surrender and the habit of moving one button on the sleeve was adopted awaiting the reinstatement of Finland to the Swedish Kingdom.