The Concert

What struck me the first time I heard Kraja was their total credibility and authenticity. Their singing voices are a natural extension of their speaking voices with no trace of affectation. There is also a geographical connection: this sound can only come from northern Sweden. The clear vowels of the local dialect combined with Norrland directness is a crucial part of what we hear when Kraja sings. A sound that is like opening a window on a summer morning to let in the fresh air.

Their phrasing is so simple and obvious that you take it for granted until you realize how rare it is, and difficult. Without mannerisms there is nothing to hide behind. You just have to intonate, sing and deliver.

There are not many who can do that.

Kraja can.

Listen and enjoy!

Johan Norberg

swedish guitarist and composer

Michael Huschke was born in Weimar in 1969 and has been married since 2003.

From 1986 until 1992 he studied at the musical college Franz Liszt in Weimar and acquired an art degree as a repettiteur.

Following his studies, Michael had vocational training and jobs at various financial institutions, the last one as a branch manager at Deutsche Bank.

From 2001 until 2004 he got a bachelor of arts degree and studied economic science and philosophy at the university in Erfurt.

Since 2005 Michael has been acting chief executive officer at the Deutsche Kindermedienstiftung „Goldener Spatz“ in Erfurt.

In addition to his studies and jobs he has been an artistic freelancer since 1992. The Erfurter Männerchor and his leader Christian Wolf have been playing with Michael for various joint concerts in the past few years.

Dear friends and listeners,

There is not much to add to Johan Norberg’s words about Kraja. Nonetheless please allow some of my own thoughts about the new album.

The songs on this CD give hope and certainty in those unstable times, even if the content of the melodies and words are mostly contemplating and wistful. The listener gets an impression of confidence despite of life’s finiteness.

Thankful to the fresh, authentic and empathetic singing of Kraja, we can feel those emotions while listening and taking part in their live concerts.

The word Kraja means “a place where you can feel at home” and with this new album „Brusand Hav“ one can truly experience and arrive in that exact same place of life.

Tack så mycket Kraja!

Martin Frischmuth

Founder Kraja-Fan-Club Erfurt

For more than 40 years Prof. Gert Frischmuth managed the choir 'Erfurter Männerchor 1890 e.V.', a choir with 80 - 90 active members. Part of this choir is the 'Kleine Gruppe des EMC 1890 e.V.', a team of 4 - 5 singers in each one of the four voice types of the choir. Their goal is to be able to sing choir music written for smaller groups of singers rather than for a big choir. Every monday after the regular training those members of the 'Kleine Gruppe' get together at the Erfurter Gildehaus to practice these compositions.

This additional exercise was rewarded soon. The group, now performing under the name 'Kammerchor im Erfurter Männerchor', was able to come up with a repertoire which could be integrated into the presentations of the big choir in an easy and very harmonic way. The list of songs performed by this group of singers spreads from spiritual songs (like Exsultate justi, Credo, Ave Maria/Lukowski, Sanctus/Racevskis) to folk songs (In einem kühlen Grunde, Ich ging durch einen grasgrünen Wald/Reger, An den Mond) and to satire (Graf Gordon, Blauer Mond).

Under the new choir leader Mr. Christian Wolf the 'Erfurter Männerchor' was able to enhance its profile. In the same way, the 'Kammerchor' follows the slogan 'To sing means to understand!' with very high enthusiasm and commitment. The current project 'Kraja in Erfurt' shows that the small choir is able to be the root for new ideas and to attract interested audience to this kind of music.

After having enjoyed the performance, let us know if you are interested in singing with us! See us at one of the exercise evenings, and maybe the 'Erfurter Männerchor' does not only attract new fans but new active singers as well. This would be the highest reward for the men of action at the 'Erfurter Männerchor' and the 'Kammerchor'!