RESERVATIONS

What is a “Fika”? Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffee break, with one’s colleagues, friends, date or family. The word “fika” can serve as both a verb and a noun. Swedes, like most Scandinavians, consider coffee an important part of their culture.

Rachel Panitch and David Kaynor’s Fiddling Duo brings together the sweet sounds of fiddle harmonies from many regions of Sweden and New England. Hear the stories behind the tunes as they perform polskas, schottisches, waltzes and walking tunes. David Kaynor is a Western Massachusetts-based fiddler, caller, dance composer, and organizer. He is an ambassador for New England fiddle music on his travels in Sweden, and an ambassador for Swedish music whenever he returns home. Rachel Panitch is is a fiddler, violinist, teacher and improviser living in the Boston area, and originally learned many of her favorite fiddle tunes from David. A mutual musical admiration brings them together for this special duo performance.

David Kaynor is a fiddler, caller, dance composer, and organizer of a well-known Greenfield contra dance series in western Massachusetts, a training ground for many of today’s most talented dance musicians. He has made influential recordings with The Fourgone Conclusions, Three Good Reasons, the Greenfield Dance Band, and fiddler/teacher Betsy Branch of Portland, Oregon. David has served on the staffs of Ashokan, Fiddle Tunes, Northeast Heritage Music Camp, the Lady of the Lake, and many other dance camps and weekends. He is an ambassador for New England fiddle music on his travels in Sweden, and an ambassador for Swedish music whenever he returns home.

Rachel Panitch is a fiddler, teacher and improviser living in the Boston area. Rachel is a contra dance fiddler with bands French Roast and Pizzazz, she performs with Classical music with the Cardamom Quartet, and tells stories with Thread Ensemble: an improvisatory trio of violins, voices and vibraphone. Rachel’s fiddling was part of the Emmy-nominated soundtrack for the 2009 PBS documentary “The Mosque in Morgantown.” She has been an artist-in-residence in neighborhoods, in schools, and most recently, in Zion National Park. Rachel received her Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory in 2013.

Presented with support from the Barbro Oscher Pro Suecia Foundation