A Sampler of Swedish Traditional Fiddle Music and Dance
February 08, 2008 03:59 AM EST
(Updated: February 09, 2008 04:29 AM EST)
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comments: 32
Many of you have asked me to post a video of me playing my fiddle music. So far I haven't been able to make that happen. But to give you an idea of what I play, and why I like it, I found some videos on youtube for you to check out. I tried to make a direct link, but it didn't seem to work, so I hope you don't mind copying and pasting...
This first one is of a woman fiddler playing a classic Swedish tune by the fiddler Viksta-Lasse for a dance at Osterbystamman (Fiddler's Gathering at Osterby, Sweden) in 2006. Also watch the feet of the dancers, doing a polska (it means "Polish," and is a particular kind of couple dance, probably originating in Poland, of which there are many varieties). The men and women take turns doing things with their feet, not the same step at the same time. The tempo is 3/4 time, but not a waltz tempo; watch the musicians and dancers show you the beats in this and the next video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsd3GIY6jWc
The next one is from the Osterby Nyckelharpastamman, 2007. The nyckelharpa, or keyed fiddle, is a unique Swedish instrument that looks like a big fiddle held sideways at the waist, bowed up and down, and the strings are depressed by keys instead of fingers. It has a deeper sound than a fiddle and is tuned differently, so a lot of the tunes are unique to the instrument. Here you will experience a collage of music and sights from the festival. You will see Peter Hedlund playing his nyckelharpa early on in the video, wearing a black t-shirt. You will notice that all ages play this music. I was surprised to see so many young women playing nyckelharpa, but then I remembered that there is a nyckelharpa association in our Pacific Northwest that is mostly women!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjHI7rNq2FE
The video below shows some scenes of the Swedish countryside and cities as nyckelharpa music is played, and again you will see Peter Hedlund.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaONBn8AZPY
Below is the Nyckelharpa Road Movie, which takes you on a tour of Nyckelharpa country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZsUdLzdTdE&feature=related
Here Peter Hedlund plays a tune called Tobogubben while a couple dances the hambo (a kind of polska); you can see the different parts of the dance, and the different steps of the man and woman when they launch into the twirl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YldPnY4JxVM
I hope you will enjoy this tour of Sweden and its beautiful music that I love so much!
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Comments: 32
Thank you so much for sharing this music and video.
I am going to head for bed but will be back to listen soon.
Thank you for posting this Alison. Night
This was beautiful. It reminded me of the folk music I enjoy listening to from the Great Lakes area (we're in MI), especially up in the Upper Peninsula where there's a strong history of Norwegian Finnish and Swedish workers (mining the ore and manning the huge Great Lake ships). Just about every festival we go to has Lake Lore and folk music similar to this but about the Great Lakes.
I enjoyed seeing so many young people playing the music and enjoying themselvs. Thanks for posting these. Fun!
Aesop for Today, February 7
Aesop for Today, February 8
Want to send me some names of good CDs?
Everyone in my family plays...something.
We have a violinist, flutest, keyboardists, bass, 3 cello players...and a lot of fun when we all get together.
I get the vision of whole families avoiding the outside coo-o-o-old and staying inside, by the fire, whittling and bowing.
Grandpas and baby girls. Beautiful.
Wilka
I'm still hoping to hear and see you play.
On to the 3rd link...WOW...I love seeing so many different aged people playing the different string instruments...saw a stand up bass too, which I love. Very enjoyable video...thanks..another keeper!
onward to the 4th...I bookmarked this one to come back to later as it's another long one.
And the 5th one ends up your little tour on a high note.
Very enjoyable...Thanks again Alison
Yes, the feel of Swedish music is quite different than old time or bluegrass music, William.
Debra, that is cool that you heard Swedish music as a kid! Did they play instruments? Or perhaps you listened to some old "stenkaka," or stone cakes, as the Swedes called the thick, old 78's?
Katherine, thanks for commenting on each video you watched, glad you liked them. Swedish polkas and schottisches and waltzes are easy to jump in on, if you know how to do that; but the polskas do take some training. I didn't have any teacher when I learned, though; I watched the feet of all the dancers at a music festival to figure out the steps. Since the men's and women's feet are not mirroring each other's movements but rather taking turns, it can be tricky.
I am thinking to post an article about CD's and printed music and internet resources that are available....