Lena Willemark (born 12 May 1960) is a Swedish traditional music fiddler, singer, and composer, who combines elements of folk and jazz.
Born in Älvdalen, Dalarna, Willemark grew up with the region's folk music. In Stockholm in the 1970s, she also had contact with jazz. She has collaborated with groups such as Frifot, Enteli, Elise Einarsdotter, and composer Karin Rehnqvist. She recorded Nordan with Ale Möller, winning in 1994 both a Grammis and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Commissioned by Stockholm, Cultural Capital of Europe in 1998, she composed and performed Windogur.
For several decades Willemark has broadened her scope through collaborations with jazz musicians and other artists. She is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and is often seen on stage across Sweden and abroad.
Discography
Lena Willemark När som gräset det vajar, 1989
Lena Willemark/Ale Möller/Per Gudmundsson Frifot, 1991
Frifot with Kirsten Bråten-Berg, Musique des vallées scandinaves (Suède - Norvège), 1993 Lena Willemark/Ale Möller Nordan, 1994 (ECM) Enteli Enteli, 1994 Elise Einardotter Ensemble Senses, 1995 Ale Möller Hästen och Tranan, 1996 Lena Willemark/Ale Möller Agram, 1996 (ECM) Frifot Järven, 1996 Enteli Live, 1997 Frifot Frifot, 1999 (ECM) Lena Willemark Windogur, 2000 Frifot Sluring, 2003 Lena Willemark Älvdalens Elektriska, 2006 Frifot Flyt, 2007 Trees of Light, 2015 - with Anders Jormin and Karin Nakagawa
Willemark also appears on a number of other recordings and compilations, including:
Hector Zazou Songs from the Cold Seas, 1994
Johan Hedin Angel Archipelago, 1998
Groupa Månskratt, 1990
Rita Marcotulli, Koinè, 2002
Anders Jormin In Winds, In Light (ECM), 2003 (ECM) Kirsten Bråten Berg Stemmenes skygge (Heilo), with Marilyn Mazur, 2005 Various artists Finlir och Gold (compilation) Various artists Varjehanda folkmusik (Musica Sveciae 3) Various artists Lockrop & vallåtar (Musica Sveciae 8) Various artists Blod, lik & tårar (Musica Sveciae 19) Various artists Folkmusik i förvandling (Musica Sveciae 25) Various artists Visfolk och tralltokar Various artists Carl Michael Bellman Various artists Folksamling