This fall, a YouTube user published a video of his grandfather (Selmar Ryan) and a group of old (and old-time) musicians from Mabel, Minnesota playing on an NRK television show with well-known Norwegian musician and poet, Erik Bye. The show commemorate the 100th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to Minnesota.
Mabel is located in the southeastern corner of Minnesota — a very Norwegian area of the state. These gentlemen had been playing together for many years. There are two fiddles, a piano and a banjo as rhythm instruments. The banjo is a very American addition.
In this interview, the American gentlemen — who are speaking mostly in Norwegian (with a smattering of English and Norglish)! — talk of their Norwegian roots. Back in 1975, many older Norwegian-Americans would have been able to carry on a rather fluent conversation in Norwegian, even if they had been born in the USA. That is not very common anymore.
The group also relates the charming story (I think I understood correctly) of how the town's conductor decided to name the first child born in the town after the first train that came through after the birth. It was Mabel. And that's apparently how the town got its name.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse into a form of tradition and a generation that is no longer with us.
