Folk music from Norrbotten (the northernmost county of Sweden) is the basis for this ballet. The piece has no definitive narrative structure but shifts instead between various events and situations in the everyday life of the people of Norrbotten. Hunting, work, isolation and loneliness, ‘log dancing’ (folk dance), love, and the short springtime to name a few. The actions of the piece take place against a painted backdrop depicting a summary view of the natural environs and forces that surround the people who live there. In På Norrbotten (Down North) is accompanied by traditional folk music arranged and played by JP Nyströms, a folk music group from Gällivare / Malmberget.
“The inspiration for På Norrbotten is the music,” said Mats Ek before the premiere. “I heard a compilation album of JP Nyströms. Later, I contacted them and together we chose the appropriate music for the piece from their repertoire.”
Carl Lagerqvist, a miner, composed one of the songs and developed two more. An additional three songs were by another local miner named Albert Israelsson.”
The piece is based on nine different dances. På Norrbotten never spills over into epic proportions. Ek chose instead to show in collage like form a slew of recognizable events and forces from everyday life in Norrbotten. Work, log dancing (folk dance), weddings, the short springtime, the collective community and the individual person for example.
As a brand, the name Nyström is well known to many accordionists and elementary school teachers. Nyström’s factory manufactured pianos and harmoniums. JP Nyström, an ancestor of the original manufacturer, utilized these instruments as well as violin, guitar, flute and bass. Karin Ek, a cousin of Mats and accomplished designer herself, created the aforementioned set, a large scale painting of a natural environment found in Norrbotten.
På Norrbotten premiered in 1985 at Malmberget’s sports hall in Gällivare. A stage was specially constructed for the performance. JP Nyströms played live at several of the Cullberg Ballet’s performances, including in Stockholm, and on tour in Paris and Norrland.