Efterklang: The Makedonium Band (2024)

Efterklang: The Makedonium Band

The perfect combination! We watched Danish Andreas Johnsen’s “The Makedonium Band” first and then the musicians (most of them) Danes and North Macedonians from the film went on stage to play in a full room at Studio 2 at DR Concert House. Wonderful atmosphere, great music, lots of applause, a unique event as part of CPH:DOX.

The film with Efterklang trio (Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen og Rasmus Stolberg) is full of beautiful scenes or should I say episodes, which are mostly thanks to local manager and musician Grga who brings the band around to meet people, musicians who can take part in the band and join the rehearsals; this process is followed because Johnsen is very good at catching the not arranged “documentary” moments when they happen.

One scene is hilarious Grga takes the trio to visit the President of the Republic, Rasmus Stolberg has brought him a present, a pair of red socks, Casper Clausen plays a freedom song on his guitar, The President seems fascinated indeed quite surprised. The band members are looking for members for their Band; they walk around in the big square; put up flyers here and there; find out that it’s mostly tourists… they’re right, I was there in August in Skopje , city full of kitch monuments.

But Makedonium in Krusevo is not kitch at all but built as a memorial for freedom fights in Macedonia This is where Grga wants the concert to be taken place, he even wants pigeons there … and film makes it happen.

It’s great meeting Macedonian musicians and their instruments one comes with theremin and she was also at concert or flute man or tanpura man string instrument could also be another one. Latter Dejan was also performing at the concert, in the film he is visited in the countryside where he asks Efterklang trio to be silent and makes silent festival around them says listen look around don’t say anything hilarious!

Johnsen’s film goes from (in b/w) rehearsals also with a choir of young girls who came to the concert as well to situations where trio is taken around to see and experience and get inspired by culture far away from Danish while searching for what lead singer Casper Clausen calls music that cross borders. The Efterklang music has strong spiritual element and at the concert with Makedonium Band you could experience how excellent band is building their compositions.

“A charming tour of Macedonian folk music and a fascinating insight into the creative process of the Danish band Efterklang”. Yes!

Watch Efterklang: The Makedonium Band For Free On Gomovies.