‘levitating above and around the material world’
Max Reinhardt, BBC Radio 3 Late Junction
Precious Collection
Buy / Listen
"travels brilliantly between solid folk origins and avant garde play with a surprise at every corner" - Jude Rogers, The Guardian (Folk Album of the Month)
*️***
"impressive musicianship and creative originality" - Tony Benjamin, Jazzwise
*️***
"Can traditional Jewish music ever be considered 'punk'? In the hands f these composers, it can." - Richard Allen, A Closer Listen
"The resulting menagerie of sound is at once moder, avant-garde and deeply traditional." - Nathaniel Handy, Songlines Magazine
"Every so often, a record comes along, takes you by the lapels and gives you a damn good shake." - Gordon Rutherford, Louder Than War
Unfurl
– Artwork by Alan Lee
Buy / Listen
BBC Radio 3 Music Planet ‘Album of the Year’
+ Information
UNFURL
Liner Notes
ROCKERS
Composed by Fran & Flora + Sam Beste
A loop and layered based improvisation.
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Electronics - Sam Beste
DOINA I
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Doina i is a transcription and interpretation of a very old Jewish Doina captured on wax cylinder and originally named ‘National Hora.1’. It is taken from the archival recording collection ‘Yikhes (Lineage) - Early Klezmer Recordings 1911-1939’ where originally the violinist (and renowned band leader) Abe Schwartz doubles up his E & A strings in octaves, stylistic at the time, and is accompanied by his daughter Sylvia Schwartz on piano.
Source: National Hora, Part 1. Yikhes: Early Klezmer Recordings from 1911-1939
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Synth - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
ROMANIAN FANTASIES
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Romanian Fantasies is an amalgamation of two short instrumental Jewish pieces originally recorded by violinist Josef Solinski and an unknown cimbalom player onto a wax cylinder c.1911 in Russia. This is part of a larger suite from the earlier recordings which Fran & Flora have combined two into a modern lyrical interpretation of the original tune and ambiguous accompaniment. The cimbalom part (hammer dulcimer) is replaced by Francesca’s percussive cello line and Flora’s melody flows evocatively over the top.
Source: Josef Solinski recording 1910
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
LA OBREJA
Trad Arr. Flora Curzon
This doina is a traditional song from Banat, Romania which Flora learnt when visiting Marin Bunea and Chisinau, Moldova.
Source: Marin Bunea, Achim Nica
With help on pronunciation from Monooka
Vocals - Flora Curzon
Lyrics:
ENGLISH
In a garden in Obreja
A longing took root (began)
Au au au (interjections as in to express a hearthache) Ioane Ioane (man name, would translate to John in english)
I am dying after you.
I wanted to take him with me
But the roots are keeping him
Au au au sister sister
Stay with us still for a talk
ROMANIAN
La Obreja-ntr-o grădină
O prins doru' rădăcina
Au, au, au... Ioane, Ioane
După tine doda moare.
Eu am vrut să-l iau cu mine
Da' rădăcina îl ţâne
Au, au, au... dodă, dodă
Ia mai stai cu noi dă vorbă.
GEAMPORALES
Trad / Florea Turcita Arr. Fran & Flora, and Linde Timmermans
Fran & Flora learnt this up-beat dance tune from their friend Linde Timmermans (Belgian violinist, composer and horse-whisperer) who features as lead violin on the ‘unfurl’ recording. Geamporales is a traditional dance tune in a 7/8 groove from Romania written by Florea Turcita.
Source: Marcel Ramba
Violins - Flora Curzon and Linde Timmermans
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
DOINA II
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Fran & Flora learnt this dark free-flowing lament from Hungarian Roma violinist István “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. Whilst staying true Doina’s original form, this performance leaves space for real-time improvisation and winding developments.
Source: “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania.
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
TALKING TREES
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
This is a traditional tune from the Thracian region. While its ultimate origin and date unknown, Fran & Flora learnt it in Crete from the Cretan Lyra master Ross Daly in 2016.
Source: Ross Daly
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg
Percussion - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
MAYN RUE PLATZ
Lyrics and Melody by Morris Rosenfeld, Arr. Fran & Flora
Mayn Rue Platz (My Resting Place) is a reinterpretation of well known Yiddish poem & melody by Morris Rosenfeld, one of the 'Sweat Shop Poets' of early 20th century New York. Sung by Francesca Ter-Berg and arranged by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste, the poem and song both tell the true story of a factory worker who died in a fire, singing to his lover from the afterlife. The words capture the dismal life of the factory worker which is contrasted with the beauty of their shared dreams.
Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Piano - Sam Beste
Electronics - Sam Beste
Help with Yiddish pronunciation from Rachel Weston
ENGLISH
Don't look for me where myrtles are green.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where lives wither at the machines,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where birds sing.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
I am a slave where chains ring,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where fountains spray.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where tears flow and teeth gnash,
There is my resting place.
And if you love me with true love,
So come to me, my good beloved,
And cheer my gloomy heart
And make sweet my resting place
YIDDISH
Nit zukh mikh vu di mirtn grinen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu lebns velkn bay mashinen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu di feygl zingen.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
A shklaf bin ikh vu keytn klingen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu fontanen shpritsn.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu trern rinen, tseyner kritsn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Un libstu mikh mit varer libe,
To kum tsu mir, mayn guter shats,
Un hayter oyf mayn harts di tribe
Un makh mir zis mayn rue plats
NUBAR NUBAR
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
This is an Armenian curcuna dance tune in a fast 10 beat rhythm, divided into 4 slow beats. Fran & Flora believe it to be written by the living Armenian composer and oud player, John Berberian.
Source: Giorgos Papaioannou
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Frame Drum / percussion - Simon Roth
DEPARTURES
Fran & Flora
A montage of improvisations by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Vocals - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
Recorded, produced and mixed by Sam Beste 2015-2018
Mastered by Peter Beckmann 2018
Artwork by Alan Lee 2018
THANKS
This album could not have been made without the help of many people. In particular we would like to thank our inspiring teachers - Tcha Limberger, Giorgos, Ross Daly, Csipi, Marcel Ramba, Marin Bunea - as well as the many living and late musicians from whose recordings we have learnt many beautiful tunes including Josef Solinski. We would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to Rachel Weston and Monooka for helping us with the lyrics and translations of of Mein Rue Platz and La Obreja; Alan Lee for the the generous gift of his beautiful illustrations; and Hejira / Lima Limo Records and Ben Mandelson, for all their support, time and advice over the years. Special thanks also to all those who supported our Crowdfunder Campaign and pre-ordered the album, with particular thanks to Elizabeth Howe.
We have done our best to credit all the musicians from whom we have learnt this music; it we have missed someone, please get in touch with us.
Unfurl Remix EP
– Artwork by Alan Lee
– Adapted by Raimond Wong
Buy / Listen
Stardust (Doina iii)
– Artwork by Alan Lee
– Adapted by Raimond Wong
Buy / Listen
Multi-award-nominated experimental/folk duo Fran & Flora captivate audiences with their reinventions of traditional Eastern European melodies and songs. Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vox) and Flora Curzon (violin/vox) draw inspiration from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and studying with traditional masters, infusing source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a 'border-defying' aesthetic (Mojo).
Following their acclaimed debut album Unfurl, Fran & Flora released their 2nd studio album Precious Collection on Hidden Notes Records in April 2024 to critical acclaim, receiving a 4 star review from the Guardian, and ‘Folk Album of the Month’ (time-travels brilliantly between solid folk origins and avant garde play with a surprise at every corner - Jude Rogers) and 4 stars in Jazzwise (impressive musicianship and creative originality - Tony Benjamin).
The record explodes in myriad directions, exploring the richness of Fran & Flora’s longstanding collaboration. With Klezmer and Yiddish song forming the backbone and inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring several self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum). Throughout the record which was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA) - Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.
Known for their engaging live performances, the duo has performed across the UK and beyond, including Kings Place (Songlines Encounters), Cafe Oto, Hidden Notes, Between the Lines Festival, Shambala, EFG London Jazz Festival, Smugglers Festival, Shtetl Neukolln (Berlin), Ancienne Belgique (Brussels), Casa Del Popolo and KlezKanada (Montreal).
They have been supported by PRS Women Make Music, Help Musicians, BBC Introducing and Arts Council England.
'Border-defying'
Mojo
‘vibrant, mournfully expressive, and creatively imaginative'
Line Of Best Fit
‘Indisputable virtuosity and a down-to-earth gleefulness'
Songlines Magazine
‘An album of beguiling beauty'
The Wire
Bookings
info@franandflora.com
Publisher
james@phantom-limb.co.uk
Press / Label
info@hiddennotes.co.uk
Fran & Flora
info@franandflora.com
All Photos © Ilme Vysniauskaite
© Fran & Flora 2021. Site by Veil Projects
Precious Collection
Buy / Listen
"travels brilliantly between solid folk origins and avant garde play with a surprise at every corner" - Jude Rogers, The Guardian (Folk Album of the Month) ****
"impressive musicianship and creative originality" - Tony Benjamin, Jazzwise ****
"Can traditional Jewish music ever be considered 'punk'? In the hands of these composers, it can." - Richard Allen, A Closer Listen
"The resulting menagerie of sound is at once moder, avant-garde and deeply traditional." - Nathaniel Handy, Songlines Magazine
"Every so often, a record comes along, takes you by the lapels and gives you a damn good shake." - Gordon Rutherford, Louder Than War
Unfurl
– Artwork by Alan Lee
Buy / Listen
+ Information
UNFURL
Liner Notes
ROCKERS
Composed by Fran & Flora + Sam Beste
A loop and layered based improvisation.
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Electronics - Sam Beste
DOINA I
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Doina i is a transcription and interpretation of a very old Jewish Doina captured on wax cylinder and originally named ‘National Hora.1’. It is taken from the archival recording collection ‘Yikhes (Lineage) - Early Klezmer Recordings 1911-1939’ where originally the violinist (and renowned band leader) Abe Schwartz doubles up his E & A strings in octaves, stylistic at the time, and is accompanied by his daughter Sylvia Schwartz on piano.
Source: National Hora, Part 1. Yikhes: Early Klezmer Recordings from 1911-1939
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Synth - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
ROMANIAN FANTASIES
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Romanian Fantasies is an amalgamation of two short instrumental Jewish pieces originally recorded by violinist Josef Solinski and an unknown cimbalom player onto a wax cylinder c.1911 in Russia. This is part of a larger suite from the earlier recordings which Fran & Flora have combined two into a modern lyrical interpretation of the original tune and ambiguous accompaniment. The cimbalom part (hammer dulcimer) is replaced by Francesca’s percussive cello line and Flora’s melody flows evocatively over the top.
Source: Josef Solinski recording 1910
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
LA OBREJA
Trad Arr. Flora Curzon
This doina is a traditional song from Banat, Romania which Flora learnt when visiting Marin Bunea and Chisinau, Moldova.
Source: Marin Bunea, Achim Nica
With help on pronunciation from Monooka
Vocals - Flora Curzon
Lyrics:
ENGLISH
In a garden in Obreja
A longing took root (began)
Au au au (interjections as in to express a hearthache) Ioane Ioane (man name, would translate to John in english)
I am dying after you.
I wanted to take him with me
But the roots are keeping him
Au au au sister sister
Stay with us still for a talk
ROMANIAN
La Obreja-ntr-o grădină
O prins doru' rădăcina
Au, au, au... Ioane, Ioane
După tine doda moare.
Eu am vrut să-l iau cu mine
Da' rădăcina îl ţâne
Au, au, au... dodă, dodă
Ia mai stai cu noi dă vorbă.
GEAMPORALES
Trad / Florea Turcita Arr. Fran & Flora, and Linde Timmermans
Fran & Flora learnt this up-beat dance tune from their friend Linde Timmermans (Belgian violinist, composer and horse-whisperer) who features as lead violin on the ‘unfurl’ recording. Geamporales is a traditional dance tune in a 7/8 groove from Romania written by Florea Turcita.
Source: Marcel Ramba
Violins - Flora Curzon and Linde Timmermans
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
DOINA II
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
Fran & Flora learnt this dark free-flowing lament from Hungarian Roma violinist István “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. Whilst staying true Doina’s original form, this performance leaves space for real-time improvisation and winding developments.
Source: “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania.
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
TALKING TREES
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
This is a traditional tune from the Thracian region. While its ultimate origin and date unknown, Fran & Flora learnt it in Crete from the Cretan Lyra master Ross Daly in 2016.
Source: Ross Daly
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg
Percussion - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
MAYN RUE PLATZ
Lyrics and Melody by Morris Rosenfeld, Arr. Fran & Flora
Mayn Rue Platz (My Resting Place) is a reinterpretation of well known Yiddish poem & melody by Morris Rosenfeld, one of the 'Sweat Shop Poets' of early 20th century New York. Sung by Francesca Ter-Berg and arranged by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste, the poem and song both tell the true story of a factory worker who died in a fire, singing to his lover from the afterlife. The words capture the dismal life of the factory worker which is contrasted with the beauty of their shared dreams.
Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Piano - Sam Beste
Electronics - Sam Beste
Help with Yiddish pronunciation from Rachel Weston
ENGLISH
Don't look for me where myrtles are green.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where lives wither at the machines,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where birds sing.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
I am a slave where chains ring,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where fountains spray.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where tears flow and teeth gnash,
There is my resting place.
And if you love me with true love,
So come to me, my good beloved,
And cheer my gloomy heart
And make sweet my resting place
YIDDISH
Nit zukh mikh vu di mirtn grinen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu lebns velkn bay mashinen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu di feygl zingen.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
A shklaf bin ikh vu keytn klingen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu fontanen shpritsn.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu trern rinen, tseyner kritsn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Un libstu mikh mit varer libe,
To kum tsu mir, mayn guter shats,
Un hayter oyf mayn harts di tribe
Un makh mir zis mayn rue plats
NUBAR NUBAR
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora
This is an Armenian curcuna dance tune in a fast 10 beat rhythm, divided into 4 slow beats. Fran & Flora believe it to be written by the living Armenian composer and oud player, John Berberian.
Source: Giorgos Papaioannou
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Frame Drum / percussion - Simon Roth
DEPARTURES
Fran & Flora
A montage of improvisations by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste
Violin - Flora Curzon
Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg
Vocals - Flora Curzon
Electronics - Sam Beste
Recorded, produced and mixed by Sam Beste 2015-2018
Mastered by Peter Beckmann 2018
Artwork by Alan Lee 2018
THANKS
This album could not have been made without the help of many people. In particular we would like to thank our inspiring teachers - Tcha Limberger, Giorgos, Ross Daly, Csipi, Marcel Ramba, Marin Bunea - as well as the many living and late musicians from whose recordings we have learnt many beautiful tunes including Josef Solinski. We would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to Rachel Weston and Monooka for helping us with the lyrics and translations of of Mein Rue Platz and La Obreja; Alan Lee for the the generous gift of his beautiful illustrations; and Hejira / Lima Limo Records and Ben Mandelson, for all their support, time and advice over the years. Special thanks also to all those who supported our Crowdfunder Campaign and pre-ordered the album, with particular thanks to Elizabeth Howe.
We have done our best to credit all the musicians from whom we have learnt this music; it we have missed someone, please get in touch with us.
Unfurl Remix EP
– Artwork by Alan Lee
Adapted by Raimond Wong
Buy / Listen
Stardust (Doina iii)
– Artwork by Alan Lee
– Adapted by Raimond Wong
Buy / Listen
Multi-award-nominated experimental/folk duo Fran & Flora captivate audiences with their reinventions of traditional Eastern European melodies and songs. Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vox) and Flora Curzon (violin/vox) draw inspiration from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and studying with traditional masters, infusing source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a 'border-defying' aesthetic (Mojo).
Following their acclaimed debut album Unfurl, Fran & Flora released their 2nd studio album Precious Collection on Hidden Notes Records in April 2024 to critical acclaim, receiving a 4 star review from the Guardian, and ‘Folk Album of the Month’ (time-travels brilliantly between solid folk origins and avant garde play with a surprise at every corner - Jude Rogers) and 4 stars in Jazzwise (impressive musicianship and creative originality - Tony Benjamin).
The record explodes in myriad directions, exploring the richness of Fran & Flora’s longstanding collaboration. With Klezmer and Yiddish song forming the backbone and inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring several self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum). Throughout the record which was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA) - Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.
Known for their engaging live performances, the duo has performed across the UK and beyond, including Kings Place (Songlines Encounters), Cafe Oto, Hidden Notes, Between the Lines Festival, Shambala, EFG London Jazz Festival, Smugglers Festival, Shtetl Neukolln (Berlin), Ancienne Belgique (Brussels), Casa Del Popolo and KlezKanada (Montreal).
They have been supported by PRS Women Make Music, Help Musicians, BBC Introducing and Arts Council England.
'Border-defying'
Mojo
‘vibrant, mournfully expressive, and creatively imaginative'
Line Of Best Fit
‘Indisputable virtuosity and a down-to-earth gleefulness'
Songlines Magazine
‘An album of beguiling beauty'
The Wire
Supported by BBC Music Introducing
Bookings
info@franandflora.com
Publisher
james@phantomlimb.co.uk
Press / Label
info@hiddennotes.co.uk
Fran & Flora
info@franandflora.com
Download One Sheet PR Kit
All Photos © Ilme Vysniauskaite
© Fran & Flora 2021. Site by Veil Projects