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 [
HISTORY ]
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Ad Libitum - the Choir with Swing!
On September 13th 1968 Per-Anders Sjöberg gathered 16 enthusiastic singers. P-A
had a brilliant idea: To create a choir with a diversified repertoire and
with a desire to experiment. The idea was named Ad Libitum - for pleasure.
To sing sacred music in the church as well as profane songs
on the pub scene has become the sign of the Ad Libitum
choir. The different style in choir music very early
aroused a great interest. Ad Libitum soon became a conception within Swedish
choir activity and represented refashioning and high quality. As early as 1969
Ad Libitum debuted in the famous TV-show "Hylands Corner".
The high pace continued and
cooperation with famous artists, musicians and directors
gave an extraordinary development to the choir.
Gradually the number of choir members increased to twice as many,
among others on advice of the choir giant Norman Luboff. Norman Luboff very soon became of a great importance to Ad Libitum. 1971 Norman came to Linköping to record a
TV-show together with the choir.
Other conductor profiles than Norman Luboff the choir has
worked together with are John Rutter, Kirby Shaw and Ward Swingle. As reflection
over all other great musicians and artists that have
contributed to the choir during the years, it feels like the jazz band song "A
String of Pearls"; Östgöta blåsarsymfoniker, Ingemar Wåhlins Big Band, Linköping Jazz Orchestra, Håkan Hagegård, Michael Dore
and the vocal group Vocalease, Göran Fristorp, Peter Ljung and Anna-Lotta Larsson, Stefan Nilsson, Tommy Körberg, Sylvia Lindenstrand, Birgit Nilsson, Arne Domnerus,
Putte Wickman, Rune Gustavsson, Per-Erik Hallin, Olle Adolfsson, Christer S:t Hill, Mikael Samuelsson, Anders Ekborg, Olle Persson, Janne Schaffer, Björn J:son Lind,
Myrra Malmberg and Peter Nordahl, Roger Pontare, Magnus Bäcklund and Jessica
Andersson (Fame), Tina Ahlin and Staffan Lindberg etc...
Two EP records were recorded in
1971. The song ” I morgon är kärleken ny” candidated to "Svensktoppen" (Swedish
radio hit list). LP records that followed: An own production with blended
repertoir in 1975, 1976 a Christmas song record with Jörgen Edman (became golden
disc), jazz record "As you like" with Bengt Hallberg, George Riedel, Jan Allan
and Egil Johansen 1978, 1979 gospel record "Feel the spirit" with Norman Luboff.
1983-85 five LP records were produced: "Let's all get together" with Ward Swingle
and The new Swingle
Singers (was also television
broadcasted), Swedish ballads on the record "När morgonen gryr", Beatles music
on record with soloists Lill Lindfors, Anneli Rydhé, Jerry Williams, Eva Dahlgren
and Basse Wickman, "Psalmer och visor" with Trio con Tromba (Bengt Hallberg, George Riedel
and Jan Allan) and Christmas song record with Loa Falkman. The CD record 5x100
with Bengt Hallberg came 1994.
Just in time for the jubilee concert 1998 the record "The music´s always there"
was released. The latest in the row of CD records is "Ad Libitum A Capella",
with music written and arranged by Ward Swingle. Conductor at the recording was Ward
Swingle himself!
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Ad libitum"best in show". (Verona, Italien 1997)
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Along with television and radio broadcasting
Ad Libitum has travelled a lot, both within Sweden and in
Europe. In the spring 1997 the choir
went to Italy to participate in the international choir
festival in Verona, where the present
conductor Jörgen Ralphsson led us to an
honourable victory!
In July 2000 the choir
participated in another competition. This time in Elsenfeldt
Germany. The result was
first place in all three classes!
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Ad Libitum wins all
three classes. (Elsenfeldt, Tyskland 2000)
2002 Ad Libitum went to Debrecen in
eastern Hungary to participate in the Bela Bartok-festival.
The choir won its class and qualified to the Grand Finale. Jörgen Ralphsson
also won first price for best musical interpretation of the
obligation piece Sirató Ének by Zoltán Kodály presented
in Hungerian. 2004 the choir went to Wales and Eisteddfod,
where we won
our class and qualified to the Grand Finale
together with another Swedish choir
Mariakören
from Västerås.
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Ad Libitum wins their
class. (Llangollen,
Wales 2004)
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Jörgen Ralphsson (who took over leadership of Ad Libitum
after founder P-A
Sjöbergs decease in
the early 90-ties) has conducted the
chior in a very competent and personal way. Deepening in music and
refined song technique
characterizes the choir today.
Capable, driving conductors, Proffessional artists, chorists
crazy about singing, and funny arduous reperoir. That
is Ad Libitum - for pleasure!
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Text: Magnus Jonzon and Kristina Biewendt
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Main
Records
Concerts
History
Members
Contact
Links
Svensk version
Deutsche version
©2005 Kören Ad Libitum,
Linköping
Webbdesign Olle Jonzon
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