Ad Libitum - the Choir that Swings!
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; 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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[ History ]
