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biography / portrait

Virelai is based in Denmark and plays music from the middle ages. The repertoire includes dancing melodies from the south of Europe (France, Italy and Spain) as well as old Nordic ballads and songs. You can meet Virelai anywhere: in the streets making people dance wild; to a medieval market with the children singing along; at your school’s, company’s or best friend’s party or as a soundtrack to a fantasy evening. You can be taken into a circle chain dance or sit down and fall into some old legend sang by Anna Katrin. The word Virelai comes from old French and means ”the beauty of music, dance and poetry”. The band was founded in 1999 by Søren Hemmerlund and since 2003 they are: Søren Hammerlund (Denmark): hurdy gurdy and mandola Martin Seeberg (Denmark): flutes, shawm, viola and jews harps Anna Katrin Egilstrød (Faroe Islands): voice, flutes and percussion Juan Pino (Switzerland/Ecuador): davul, darbouka, frame drums and percussion Since 2005 the 4 musicians started the project Valravn, where ancient Nordic music merges with modern grooves and electronics. Check out www.valravn.net!