Gunnar Idenstam

Gunnar Idenstam, concert organist, composer and folk musician, is know throughout the world for his virtuouso playing, stunning improvisations and his unconventional and original approach to organ music. Gunnar Idenstam aims to expand his audience’s appreciation of the organ and to transcend the limitations of genre. He comes from a background of classical music, but has always had a “distant love relationship” with the folk and symphonic rock of the 1970s. Today he has brought these influences into the context of organ music where he builds bridges between French cathedral tradition, symphonic rock and Swedish folk music. In 1984 he was the first – and to date, the only – musician from northern Europe to win the prestigious international competition in improvisation, the “Grand Prix de Chartres”. In the film you will also watch Idenstam perform Toccata V from his latest solo CD Metal Angel, and some tunes from the projects LÅTAR /Swedish Folk Tunes with Johan Hedin, nyckelharpa, (keyed fiddle) and Bach in Swedish with Lisa Rydberg, violin.