via peregrini - the  pilgrim's path

To leave home as a pilgrim in the Middle Ages was to step into a world of uncertainty. The journey could last for months, leading through unfamiliar countries, languages and landscapes. Music offered prayer, courage, companionship and, at times, a welcome distraction from sore feet and the many dangers of the road.

In Via Peregrini, Swedish harpist, singer and storyteller Erik Ask-Upmark invites the audience to follow an imagined medieval pilgrim from Nidaros – present-day Trondheim – through Europe towards Santiago de Compostela. The journey leads from the cold North into the warmer lands of the South, crossing seas, forests, towns, monasteries and mountain passes.

At every stage, the musical landscape changes. Nordic ballads and dance melodies give way to songs from the German-speaking lands, music from medieval France and repertoire from the Iberian Peninsula. The sounds and instruments reflect the places encountered along the road, while Erik’s storytelling brings the pilgrim’s hopes, fears, hardships and unexpected meetings to life.
The voice and harp form the heart of the programme. Via Peregrini can be presented as an intimate solo harp concert with singing and narration. In its more varied form, Erik also introduces instruments such as bagpipes, flutes and nyckelharpa, allowing the sound of the journey to change as the pilgrim moves south.

The repertoire, arrangements and choice of instruments are historically informed and rooted in medieval sources. The concert may be performed in medieval clothing, creating a strong historical atmosphere, or in modern concert attire when a more traditional recital format is preferred.

Part harp recital, part medieval concert and part musical tale, Via Peregrini is a journey through both history and the human experience of leaving home in search of something greater.

The concert at a glance

Let the journey begin!