MultePod presents: Fiddlemaker

April 2, 2010

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Fiddlemaker A conversation with fiddlemaker Lynn Berg of Eugene, Oregon, who was awarded a bronze medal three times for hardingfeler (Hardanger fiddles) he made and entered in the 2002, 2004 and 2006 Norwegian Landskappleik (National Folk Music/Dance Competition Fiddle Exposition) held in Vågå (Gudbrandsdal), Eidsfjord (Hardanger) and Beitostolen (Valdres), respectively. Berg has just completed a [...]

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MultePod presents: Bridge of Peace

March 19, 2010

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Bridge of Peace An interview with Professor Andrea Een of St. Olaf College and Mary Hegge of the American Swedish Institute (ASI) Spelemanslag about the fiddling traditions of Norway and Sweden. We'll preview some tunes that the ASI Spelmanslag, Lars Skjervheim Spelemannslag and Twin Cities Hardingfelelag will play at their upcoming concert on Sunday in Northfield, Bridge of Peace: [...]

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Turning pop into polska

January 12, 2010

I've always said that a hallmark of a truly great melody is that it can cross genres. I recently came across this fun example of turning a Swedish pop song into a Swedish polska. The tune is "Ring Ring", an ABBA tune off of their album of the same name (when the group was known [...]

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MultePod presents: Destination: Finnskog, Part 1

January 9, 2010

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Destination: Finnskog, Part 1 A musical visit to the Finnish Woods, which are not in Finland. You can read more about the Forest Finns on Wikipedia. You can also watch a video of the Norwegian dance from Finnskog and get information about an upcoming Finnskog music/dance workshop in the USA. If you're new to listening to audio online and [...]

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From 16th century tune to a polska

December 15, 2009

The group of Swedish folk artists who brought us the lovely album, Jul i Folkton (Christmas in Folk Sounds), are at it again. They have created a new live show, which is currently touring Sweden and will result in a live album to be released soon. This video is of a performance of one piece from [...]

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A train in the night…

December 14, 2009

In one of the very first postings on Multe Music, I wrote about a tune written by Norwegian fiddler Sturla Eide, "Tog i natta (A Train In The Night)", that was inspired by a visit to our fair town of Northfield, Minnesota. Recently Eide put a video (in HD, no less) of one of his [...]

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EVENT: Finnskogpols Workshops, April 16-19, 2010

November 23, 2009

Skandia Folkdance Society has announed that this year's Springdans Northwest dance and music workshops (April 16-19, 2010) will feature the Finnskogpols (Polsdans from Finnskoga) taught by Bjørn Sverre Hol Haugen and Veslemøy Nordset from Norway. Originating in the border area between Sweden and Norway, this dance is embraced by Swedes and Norwegians alike — as [...]

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What if Bach played the polska?

October 28, 2009

In 2007, two Swedish musicians developed a concert program and issued a CD called "Bach på svenska (Bach in Swedish)". Lisa Rydberg (violin) and Gunnar Idenstam (small reed organ) asked the questions: What might have happened if Johan Sebastian Bach had come to Sweden and met Swedish musicians? How might Bach's music and traditional Swedish [...]

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Leif-Billyz: Jämtgubben, polka av Rune "Gnesta-Kalle" Gnestadius

October 22, 2009

I am so glad that silverbassharpa changed his YouTube settings to allow embedding because it allows me to share this wonderful video with you! The tune they are playing is "Jämtgubben (Guy from Jämtland) av Rune "Gnesta-Kalle" Gnestadius", which seems like it could be danced as either a polka or snoa. It's interesting that they [...]

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A "banjo hopsa" from Denmark

October 19, 2009

While originally an African-American folk instrument, the banjo has made its way into use in the traditional (and not-so-traditional) music of Nordic countries as well. Here is "Hopsa efter Niels "Svenske Niels" Wilhelm". It's also known as the "Banjohopsa (Banjo Hopsa)" because Erling played it on banjo with Svenske Niels (Swedish Niels/Nils) in the 1970s.The [...]

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Crested hen varietals

October 14, 2009

One of the most commonly known Danish folk dances is "Den toppende høne (The Crested Hen)". In many North America sources, I usually see only one version listed and taught. But there are multiple versions of this dance and the music. Here we have two examples of the dance and music straight from Denmark. The [...]

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How can you possibly sit still?!?!

September 21, 2009

Among the things I like about Nordic dance music is that it often seems to be impossible to sit still when you hear it. I can honestly understand why this type of music was opposed by the more pietistic Christians of the time. However, you would think that they associated the urge to move with [...]

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Halling it on a guitar bouzouki

September 2, 2009

From Swedish halling yesterday to Norwegian today. I've featured the work of Andreas Aase before. He's a Norwegian guitarist from Trondheim who has been doing some interesting things with folk music — and posting videos to YouTube. Here he's playing a halling (laus) tune from on a hybrid instrument — a guitar bouzouki. The tune [...]

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Halling – Swedish style

September 1, 2009

Most people think of the dance, halling (or laus), as an acrobatic Norwegian dance for men. And it is. But it is also found in Sweden and is played on fiddle as well other other instruments. One of those interesting instruments is a spilåpipa — a type of Swedish herding flute — that has seven [...]

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An electric Leksands skanklåt

August 26, 2009

Over the last few years, I've made a real effort to get to know more about the folk rock and progressive rock scene in the Nordic countries, particularly in the 1970s. There was some great music coming out at that time. Kebnekajse was one of the best known Swedish bands of that period. Some classify [...]

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