Norwegian Folk Music: The Best Instrumental Songs
Norwegian folk music is a genre of music that is typically associated with the rural areas of Norway. It is characterized by its use of traditional instruments such as the Hardanger fiddle, and often includes singing in Norwegian.
Norwegian Folk Music Basics
Norwegian folk music is the traditional music of Norway. It includes a wide variety of styles, ranging from the instrumental music of the hardanger fiddle to the more vocal music of the bygdedans and halling. Norwegian folk music has been preserved and passed down through the generations by families, music clubs, and other organizations. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Norwegian folk music, with many young people learning to play traditional instruments and dance traditional dances.
What is Norwegian folk music?
Norwegian folk music includes a wide variety of traditions and styles that have arisen through the interaction of music and dance over many centuries. Norwegian traditional music is largely based on the Norwegian folk fiddle, but other traditional instruments include theHardanger fiddle, willow flute, langeleik, drum, accordion and bukkehorn.
Norwegian folk music has its roots in the music of the Viking Age (9th-11th century AD). The Vikings were great travelers and they brought their musical traditions with them wherever they went. Over time, these traditions interacted with the musical traditions of other cultures, resulting in a rich and diverse musical heritage.
Today, Norwegian folk music is enjoyed by people all over the world. Many Norwegians are proud to preserve and promote their musical heritage, and there are many opportunities to experience Norwegian folk music firsthand. Whether you’re attending a concert, joining a workshop or simply listening to a recording, you’re sure to enjoy this unique and lively form of music!
The history of Norwegian folk music
Norwegian folk music is the music of the people of Norway. It has roots in the music of the Viking age and has been replaced, over time, by imported and influenced musical traditions. By the late Middle Ages, Norwegian composers began to develop their own unique style which would be play an important role in the development of classical music.
Norwegian folk music is divided into two main categories: traditional and modern. Traditional folk music includes ballads, lyric songs with a repeating melody, work songs, and religious songs. Modern folk music includes both rural and urban traditions as well as a wide variety of styles that have been influenced by pop and rock music.
Some of the best-known Norwegian folk musicians include Odd Nordstoga, Annbjørg Lien, Geirr Tveitt, Egil Hegge, and Karen Syberg.
The instruments used in Norwegian folk music
Norwegian folk music is the music of Norway. Norwegian folk music has been preserved and continued through the traditional folk music of Norway. Although there are few remaining traditional folk musicians,Norwegian folk music continues to be an important part of Norwegian musical scene, with contemporary performers including Anne Grete Preus, Ole Paus, Oddgeir Bergøy, Silje Nergaard, Maj Britt Andersen and Karen Jo Clårkson.
Most Norwegian traditional instruments fall into one of four categories: string, wind, percussion or keyboard. The Hardanger fiddle, or hardingfele, is a uniquely Norwegian instrument and is widely considered the national instrument of Norway. Other popular string instruments include the – often four-stringed – langeleik (a type of zither), Bounce (a five-string hardingfele), gulatune and seljefløyte. Wind instruments include the Birkebeinerpipe (a type of bagpipe), willum (a type of flute), langeleikpipa (a type of vertical flute) and various types of fife. Drums used in Norwegian folk music include the tambourine-like skalmeie, bukkehorn (goat horns used as trumpets) and various types of small Frame drums.
Keyboard instruments in Norwegian folk music include the portable organ called a humlemagiker (“humle player”). This small organ, which can be carried under the arm or in a pack on the back, was popularized by famous 18th century Hardanger fiddlers such as Ola Gulbrandsdatter Ødegård from Voss and Tore Hund from Valdres. The humlemagiker was used both for dancing at ball socials as well as for personal amusement at home; it generally had between eight and twelve Melody stops (with each note being a different length pipe) as well as several Bass stops.
The Best Norwegian Folk Songs
Norwegian folk music is the music of Norway. In the early Middle Ages, Norway was divided into a number of small kingdoms. These kingdoms were often at war with each other. As a result, the music of Norway is very varied.
“Solveig’s Song”
“Solveig’s Song” (Norwegian: Solveigs sang) is a popular Norwegian singer-songwriter Solveig Slettahjell. The song was written in 1874 by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg as part of his incidental music (Op. 23) to Henrik Ibsen’s 1867 play Peer Gynt.
The play tells the story of the title character, a norseman who goes on a fantastic journey, during which he has a number of adventures and experiences. In the course of the play, Grieg wrote incidental music for various scenes, including this song, which is sung by Solveig, a young woman who has been waiting patiently for her lover (Peer Gynt) to return home.
The song is often performed as a stand-alone concert piece, and has been recorded by many artists, including Sissel Kyrkjebø, Odd Nordstoga, and Annbjørg Lien.
“The Norwegian Wedding March”
The Norwegian Wedding March is one of the most famous and popular Norwegian folk songs. It is often played at weddings and other festive occasions, and has been adopted by many other cultures. The song was originally composed by settemberskolmester (Norwegian music teacher) Johann Sebastian Welhaven.
“Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet”
This beloved Norwegian patriotic song was written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1859, with music by Rikard Nordraak. The lyrics reflect Bjørnson’s deep love for his native country and its people, and it quickly became the unofficial anthem of Norway.
sung on the occasion of the opening of the Storting (Norwegian parliament) on January 10, 1866, and was declared the official Norwegian national anthem in a 1925 resolution by that body. It is also one of the two national anthems of Switzerland, where it is known as “Schweizerpsalm”.
The Future of Norwegian Folk Music
Norwegian Folk Music has long been a favorite of mine. I grew up listening to my father play the violin and my grandfather the accordion. I have always found the melodies to be hauntingly beautiful and the instruments to have a unique sound. Norwegian Folk Music is definitely the best instrumental music out there.
The popularity of Norwegian folk music
Norwegian Folk music has seen a significant resurgence in popularity over the past few years. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including the rise of streaming services like Spotify, which have made it easier than ever for people to discover new music. In addition, there has been a growing interest in traditional music from around the world, as people become more curious about other cultures.
Norwegian Folk music is known for its beautiful melodies and intricate instrumentals. The music often features the Hardanger fiddle, which is a traditional Norwegian instrument with a unique sound. Many of the country’s most popular folk songs have been passed down through the generations, and are still sung today.
The popularity of Norwegian Folk music shows no signs of slowing down, and it is likely that we will see even more interest in this genre in the years to come. With its beautiful melodies and rich history, Norwegian Folk music is sure to continue captivating audiences all over the world.
The influence of Norwegian folk music
Norwegian folk music is the traditional music of Norway. In its simplest form, it is the music played by farmers and other rural people while they work. Norwegian folk music has been passed down from generation to generation, and today it is still an important part of Norwegian culture.
One of the most important aspects of Norwegian folk music is its use of traditional instruments. These include the Hardanger fiddle, the willow flute, and the bukkehorn (a type of trumpet made from a hollowed-out goat horn). Norwegian folk musicians also often use natural objects to create their instruments, such as the trolltyst: a type of percussion instrument made from a wooden board with different-sized nails sticking out of it.
Norwegian folk music is known for its beautiful melodies and moving lyrics. It often tells stories about love, nature, and Norway’s history and traditions. Many of the best-known Norwegian folk songs are hundreds of years old, but new ones are being created all the time.
Norwegian folk music has been influence by many different styles over the years, including classical music, jazz, and rock. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in traditional Norwegian folk music, and today it is enjoyed by people all over the world.
