While she was dreaming (2012)
for amplified violin and tape
was written for Swedish violinist Karin Hellqvist. Its fundament is a fragmented Swedish folk tune (polska) from Dalecarlia, the folklore region of Sweden where Karin was born and raised. Without having a background in folk music myself, I used it as a musical material, mixing the characteristic techniques and timbre of the polska with contemporary techniques and, for the electronic part, ring modulation.
While she was dreaming was mainly written during dark winter days and nights while my daughter Ejla was asleep. The piece is dedicated to her.
UNEARFUL, May 4, 2018
“Jenny Hettne’s While She Was Dreaming for violin and and tape was also an American premiere. Performed with dazzling confidence by Pauline Kim Harris, its combination of glitchy sonics with a violin part that ranged from dense bursts to folkish simplicity added up to a work I would like to hear again – stat. Hopefully this performance will lead to more of this Swedish composer’s work being heard in the city, as it seems to be a fairly rare occurrence.”
Jeremy Shatan on While she was dreaming
While she was dreaming is a piece for amplified violin and tape. It was written for Swedish violinist Karin Hellqvist in 2012. Its fundament is a fragmented Swedish folk tune (polska) from Dalecarlia, the folklore region of Sweden where Karin was born and raised.
Durata: 9’10”
Score available at Svensk Musik.
Other performances by Karin Hellqvist include:
In 2014 the piece was performed by Vlad Stankuleasa at Vårmusikfestivalen, Göteborg. In 2018 the piece was performed by Frieda Mossop at the festival Svensk Musikvår, Stockholm, and selected to MATA festival, New York, performed by Pauline Kim Harris. It was also selected to Nordic Music Days Farao Islands in 2021, performed by Sámal Petersen. In 2022/2023 While she was dreaming was performed by Alicja Pilarczyk at Transit Festival, Leuven (Belgium), Ackermannshof, Basel (Switzerland) and Unerhörte Musik, Berlin. In 2023 it was selected to Festival Mujeres en la Música Nueva, Bogotá, Colombia, performed by Juan Carlos Higuita, who released it on the album “Revelaciones femininas” in 2024. The album is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
Recording with Karin Hellqvist at Sonic Festival, Copenhagen, 2018: