Cantus Fabulae

Cantus Fabulae is a music and storytelling duo with organist Riccardo Gnudi and storyteller Stina Gray. Together we offer music and storytelling performances. The music is adapted to suit the story: for medieval legends and stories we will bring our portative organ, and other stories are accompanied by Riccardo on a piano, pipe organ or our Mason & Hamlin reed organ from the 1890’s.

All of our performances are around 30 – 60 minutes long and can be tailored to suit your event. We are happy to perform indoors and outdoors, in Swedish and English, and in Sweden where we are based as well as in other parts of Europe. For bookings and enquires, contact: cantusfabulae@gmail.com

Our Stories

Queen of Heaven: Here we will explore the rich music and storytelling tradition about The Blessed Mother Mary. Have you heard of the flowers that grew from her tears and the robin that helped keep the fire going on the cold night when Jesus was born? Music: adapted for the organ. Aimed for an adult audience but can be adapted to suit all ages.  

Saint George and the Dragon: A fire-breathing dragon, a princess with a heart of pure gold, a hero in search of a celestial sword and a town encircled by red roses… Welcome to a performance for the whole family! Music: early music played on our portative organ. Suitable for all ages.

Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnell: Join us on an enchanting journey to Camelot where King Arthur and Sir Gawain must find the answer to a most challenging riddle: What do women desire most above all else? Music: early music played on our portative organ. Suitable for adults and teenagers.

Saint Francis of Assisi: Nature-loving poet, barefoot beggar, charming troubadour, wealthy merchant’s son with a dream of becoming a knight… Saint Francis was all of this and much more. Welcome to a music and storytelling performance about the patron saint of Italy, animals and ecology. Music: medieval music about Saint Francis played on our portative organ. Suitable for adults and teenagers.

La Befana: A legend from Italy about an old woman called La Befana. It is said that the three wise men stopped by her house and asked for her directions on their way to Bethlehem. During the night of Epiphany Eve between the 5th and 6th of January, La Befana travels all over Italy and gives gifts (or coal) to all the children. A delightful story for the whole family. Music: improvised piano accompaniment. Suitable for all ages.

The Legend of the Christmas Rose: a beautiful and very moving story by the beloved Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to receive The Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909. We will tell the story together with a selection of Emil Sjögren’s enchanting “Legends” played on a Romantic organ (alternatively we can adapt the music to suit the organ at hand or bring our reed organ). Swedish music and literature from the early 20th century. Suitable for adults and teenagers.

Excerpt from a performance about Saint Francis on the 14th of July 2022 at Karlskoga Church in Sweden.

About Us

Stina Gray is a storyteller and ethnologist with roots in Sweden and New Zealand. She trained as a storyteller with Anna Julia Agoston at Art of Storytelling and studied ethnology at Umeå University and Stockholm University. She began telling stories professionally in 2017 when she worked as a guide and storyteller during the summer season and autumn school holidays at Skansen Open-Air Museum in Stockholm. Her repertoire consists of folktales, fairytales, myths, legends and her own original stories.

Riccardo Gnudi is an organist and composer with roots in Italy. He completed his studies in organ performance and organ composition at the “Luigi Cherubini” Conservatory of Music in Florence, the Royal College of Organists in London, the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome-Vatican and the Academy of Music “Artisten”, University of Gothenburg. Active both as a concert organist and composer, he has performed throughout Europe and his compositions have been performed in Scandinavia, Germany, England, Canada and USA. He worked for several years at S. Stefano dei Cavalieri in Pisa and at Pisa Cathedral. He is currently organist at the Karlskoga Lutheran Church in Sweden.

“Thank you Stina and Riccardo for a fantastic experience. Incredibly beautiful.” Katarina, Karlskoga Church 2023

”A magical journey with music and myths. So moving. Thank you.” Camilla, St. Thomas Church in Vällingby, Stockholm 2024

“Entrancing and beautiful.” Fredrik, St. Thomas Church in Vällingby, Stockholm 2024

“What a fantastic story and music. Keep telling stories and playing for us.” Caroline, St. Thomas Church in Vällingby, Stockholm 2024

“Such a wonderful combination, medieval stories and music! Gentle, charming and beautiful. Like allowing your senses to journey back in time for a moment.” Charlotta, Karlskoga Church 2021

“Riccardo’s skillful organ-playing transported us to another time and when Stina tells stories it’s as if she opens a door to a magical world. A door that is left ajar long after the story is finished. We remember our evening in Karlskoga Church as one of the summers most lovely moments.” Sanna and Daniel, Karlskoga Church 2021