Medal from the King

In these photos, Paul Dahlin, folk fiddler and founder of the American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag, is being awarded the Knight First Class of the Polar Star by The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the United States of America Jonas Hafstrom. The ceremony was held at the ASI castle in Minneapolis a few weeks ago in front of a hundred guests and performers. The Polar Star is the highest honor bestowed by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustave on a non-Swede.

Paul accepted the medal in recognition for his many years of service with the Spelmanslag since its founding in 1985, and for continuing the tradition of this folk music from Rattvik, Sweden, that came down from his immigrant grandfather Edwin Johnson. Other family members that play with Paul in the Spelmanslag are his mother (daughter of Edwin) Nancy Johnson Dahlin, uncle Bruce Johnson, wife Marikay and son Daniel. The Spelmanslag is a folk orchestra of 30 fiddles, a bass, guitar, viola and a cittra, a Swedish table harp. I found them about three years ago, fell in love with the syncopated melodies and uncanny harmonies, and their gracious hospitality, and joined the group. We play concerts, and at dances, festivals and other events.

I also fell for Paul's clear, humble and gracious heart. I think I can say that all of us in the Spelmanslag admire and trust this man. He is another introvert who does very fine work as a luthier at House of Note violin shop, and who is quietly and persistently in love with this music. He has now turned over artistic direction of the Spelmanslag to the able Mary Hegge, but he is still a major part of the group. We always look forward to his parable-like stories of fiddlers and tunes and playing, his gentle wit, his deft knowledge and instruction, and his overall generosity sharing what he loves.

In our rehearsal on the Thursday following the medal ceremony, Paul noted, in his quiet way, that the award he received was for all of us and that it acknowledged that in which all of us were a part. This is typical Paul. And it engenders in us great loyalty and enthusiasm. We'd do anything for him – even practice, or show up before dawn to play a Lucia festival.

Right now, in addition to the music, I'm enjoying three things:

1. The simplicity, graciousness, heart and power of Paul's personality - like that 3rd brother in the folk tales who has the humility to share his food with the most humble person or creature he meets on the road, and who, unlike his prideful brothers, is the Knight who goes on to inherit the kingdom.
2. The verticality that Dr. Robert Moore talks about in his splendid book on masculine psychology, King, Warrior, Magician, Lover, that goes from His Majesty the King of Sweden, through the Ambassador, to Paul the Knight, and then to me and others in the Spelmanslag. I feel it and it is lovely to be associated with this line of power and be acknowledged for our service.
3. And, that incredible title for the Ambassador - "extraordinary and plenipotentiary"! I think it evokes that old European image of the green man, the masculine figure intent on encouraging, planting and husbanding in many different ways. According to Wikipedia, plenipotentiary, in this context, means that the Ambassador has full authority to represent his government. It is interesting how the word plenipotentiary has the word potent inside it. And, here, it seems to come from the king. Moore, in his book The King Within: Accessing the King in the Male Psyche, explores how men can come into relationship with the king structure in their personality, while being responsible for what he calls the "shadow king." What person doesn't want to have his or her own full authority to do what he or she needs or wants to do? Move over, Powdermilk Biscuits.
   

So, now it is great fun to encounter this experience with the energy of the king externally as it actually comes from a temporal king, through his Ambassador to a humble Knight, and thus to all of us in the Spelmanslag, and to imagine how a similar experience might play out internally inside my psyche. Or, you can imagine how it might play out inside yours.

Paul previously received a 1996 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship for his work. Check the Spelmanslag web site for performance info. One hot tip – don't miss the Nordic Ball, scheduled for January 29, 2011. Spelmanslag recordings are available at the ASI book store and other outlets.


Top photo, Virginia Windschitl. 2nd photo, Jenn Stromberg. Used with permission.

© 2010 Cristopher Anderson

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