Swedish Programs

About My Swedish Connection:

I had barely heard of Sweden before I went there as an exchange student in 1977, but I quickly felt comfortable and at home there. I fell in love with the country, the people, the folk traditions and the music. Since then, I have deepened my connection with Sweden in many ways. In the personal realm, I married a Swedish man 17 years ago. We return to Sweden regularly and often speak Swedish at home. In terms of my professional development, I earned an M.A. in Scandinavian Literature from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1989. While a student there, I taught Swedish language and literature. I specialize in the songs of Evert Taube (1890-1976), and have made several trips to Sweden to do research on his life and work. My desire to share Taube's songs with American audiences led me to begin translating them into English, and I have benefited immeasurably from my participation in two translation seminars. In 1999, I recorded and released A Talk While Dancing, a collection of my acclaimed translations of Taube's songs. I sing my Swedish repertoire and lecture on Swedish music and translation in both the United States and Scandinavia.

 

About My Swedish Repertoire:

I have an extensive repertoire of Swedish folk and troubadour songs. My sensitivity to lyrics makes me a good match for these songs, from Carl-Michael Bellman's pastorals and spirited depictions of life amid the down-and-out in 18th-century Stockholm, to Birger Sjöberg's ironic songs of small-town life at the beginning of the 20th century, to Evert Taube's broad repertoire of sailor songs, ballads, depictions of Sweden and exquisite lyrical love poems.

I am fully fluent in Swedish, and offer my programs in in Swedish, English, or a combination, according to the needs of the audience.

 

Current Program Offerings:

"From Sailor Songs to Lyrical Love Poetry:
Emily Melcher Sings Evert Taube"

Performance of Taube's songs with brief commentary on Taube's life and work

 

"Translating Evert Taube: A Singer's Perspective"

Performance of central works from Evert Taube's repertoire,
with illustrations of the art and craft of translating songs from Swedish to English

 

"Swedish Folk and Troubadour Songs"

Performance with brief background of a variety of Swedish folk and troubadour songs

 

"Three Swedish Troubadours"

  Performance with brief background of songs by Sweden's 3 great troubadours: Carl-Michael Bellman, Birger Sjöberg, and Evert Taube