Warren & Flick: Slängpolska från Östra Ryd for Violin and Double Bass

About the Composition

Thanks so much for checking out our arrangement of “Slängpolska Från Östra Ryd.” This score is a transcription of the version from our third album Cormorant. We first heard this tune on "I Walked Abroad" by Laurel Premo and Anna Gustavsson. For the album version it is played on a solo tuned bass, but the arrangement will also work in orchestral tuning!

This traditional Swedish tune comes from the rich polska tradition in Scandinavian dance fiddling. From what we’ve learned, the slängpolska features evenly emphasized beats, which makes it unique among the many types of polskas. Our rendition isn’t meant to be strictly traditional, but we aim to respect the tradition from which the tune comes. For another version closer to the tradition, we recommend checking out this video by Amy Hakanson if you are looking for another version of this tune that is more of the tradition. We also encourage anyone who enjoys this music to explore Swedish fiddling more broadly—a great place to start is the American Nyckelharpa Association.

Regarding the accompanimental passages of sixteenth notes with accents passed between the violin and bass: we notate the double stops only where there’s a groove-based accent. In practice, we hold the double-stop shape in the left hand until the next chord change, and while “shuffling” in groove, we may occasionally activate both notes—which works just fine!

For double bassists specifically: Jacob plays this arrangement in D major on a solo-tuned bass using “C major” fingerings. However, the part will work equally well (perhaps even slightly better) being played in standard tuning. We’ve included scores and parts for both solo and orchestral tunings to give you the most choice!

Finally, please view this score as a suggestion rather than something absolute. While most of the arrangement is written out, we often improvise, especially in the accompaniment. Think of the written parts as a foundation, and feel free to vary them as you like.

Enjoy playing our version of Slängpolska Från Östra Ryd!

About Warren & Flick

Warren & Flick creates music that feels both grounded and adventurous—rooted in tradition yet unafraid to explore. With Jacob Warren on double bass and tenor bass, and Grant Flick on violin, tenor guitar, and nyckelharpa, the duo crafts a compelling sound that blends original composition and improvisation with classical, jazz, and folk traditions. Jacob and Grant met in 2015 at the Acoustic Music Seminar, a former program of the Savannah Music Festival led by multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall. Designed for young string players from around the world, AMS sparked a musical partnership that’s grown into a deeply collaborative friendship.

Warren & Flick's music reflects their wide-ranging influences and shared curiosity. They spend much of their time composing, arranging, and performing together—crafting pieces that balance clarity and complexity, familiarity and surprise. Their debut album, Kestrel (2019), introduced their sound; Waxwing (2022) marked a leap forward, showing deeper ensemble interplay and a willingness to blur stylistic lines. Their newest record, Cormorant (2025), captures a further evolution—brimming with sonic color, inventive textures, and a continued spirit of curiosity.

In addition to performing and recording, Warren & Flick are committed to sharing their music in ways that invite others in. They publish sheet music for many of their original compositions, including fully arranged pieces and a tune book containing lead sheets of many pieces from their albums. These resources make their repertoire accessible to other musicians and reflect the duo’s belief in music as a collaborative, living tradition.

As educators, Warren & Flick lead workshops and clinics that encourage young musicians to find their own voices through improvisation, ear training, and acoustic traditions not often emphasized in traditional school music programs. As they put it:

“Through the wide spectrum of acoustic music, our goal is to inspire, educate, and make meaningful connections with students through music. As perpetual students ourselves, we strive to share the multitude we have learned through our experiences in standard curriculums, the lessons we have learned working outside of those curriculums, and how both perspectives provide valuable lessons in creativity, listening, and leadership.”

Both Jacob and Grant are graduates of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. In 2023, Jacob won first prize in the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, and in 2025, Warren & Flick were invited to headline the ISB Convention in Tallahassee, Florida. The duo was also a finalist in the 2024 Concert Artists Guild Competition.