Swedish folk tunes

[fatt-dad]

Dear Message Board:

I just returned from my family reunion, the Swedish side, and met some cousins from Sweden. I had my mandolin and my collection of old-time tunes, but realized I know no Swedish folk tunes. Anybody have any resources? I realize that there may be limited Swedish music written FOR the mandolin, but am certain folks have adapted the use of mandolin into the Swedish musical heritage. Just thinking it would be fun to try and learn a few. . . .

f-d

[otterly2k]

I LOVE Swedish fiddle tunes, and happen to play with a woman who is studying Swedish fiddle music. Lucky me... I get to learn it too~!

I don't know sources for written music, as I typically learn by ear from recordings. I can recommend TVfolk.net - a website with videos of many N.European music groups (listed by country). I can also recommend NorthSide (www.noside.com) which is a Minneapolis based company that carries recordings of many excellent Nordic music artists.

I'm a big fan of Vasen, Frifot, Frigg, Harv, Swap (I know, looks like an IKEA catalog) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I also have a wonderful recording by a duo Bjornsdottir/Reid (one of whom is local in my area) which you can find here: LINK (http://www.emmareid.se/en/rough.html)

I love the close harmonies, and the intricate counter-intuitive rhythms of some polskas... and also that there are simple melodies that are easy and fun to play as well.

I'll look forward to what anyone else has to chime in on this topic...

[Martin Jonas]

As far as tab is concerned, there are a couple of Swedish tunes at Mandozine, and I rather like playing Gardybelatten (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab10/gard.html), from Nigel Gatherer's site.

There is much more choice in abc/standard notation, for example this (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/info/RRTuneBk/RRtunes/RRtunes.country.html#Sweden) bunch of Swedish tunes from Richard Robinson's Tunebook (which is a really nice collection of simple tunes from many places).

Martin

[bluesmandolinman]

I don´t know anything for mandolin but there is a fiddle method for Swedish folk by Melbay that should get you started ....

Swedish Fiddle (http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?productid=98271)

good luck !

[Vigee]

I'd love to find some dedicated mandolin articles on the subject as well. Mel Bay's Fiddle Sessions carries an article on occasion (for example (http://www.fiddlesessions.com/apr06/swedish.html)). There's also some good intro material and few tunes at Swedish Traditional Music (http://www.norbeck.nu/swedtrad/index.html)

ETA: Also check out Stefan Lindén's (http://web.telia.com/~u15808769/stefan.html) site.

[McMandolin]

Gardybelatten is a very good choice. It is a very well known Swedish melody and it is well suited to Mandolin.
I think it is pronounced something like YerdibeeLauten and means Tune from Gardybe.
John Chambers of the JCtunefinder has #recocding of Finnish-American and Swedish-Finnish music "Oivan Ilo" has a lot of good Nordic Mandolin playing

[JeffD]

Swedish fiddle is kind of popular around here. There are folks learning fiddle for the first time just to play scandi tunes, skipping right past celtic and old timey as if they never existed, and lots of musicians who have gone to Swedish after being heavy into the Irish and Scottish music - as if to say, been there done that.

Its pretty interesting.

Some of the polskas can be pretty addicting. Its a bit like the first time I heard a 9/8 jig - whoa hang on there.

I especially like the influence of Swedish fiddle music on Scottish fiddle tunes of the Orkneys. There is a certain savage strangeness to them that I just love.

[tango_grass]

Sorry guys, but unless your playing Medieval Polkska's, to me Swedish Fiddle tunes can get a little monotonus a boring, DGA DGA DGA...(But I still like them)
Now, if you want to play some sweet music, start looking into Finnish music, it tends to be a little darker, more emotional and Jazzy.
Plus Finns love to Tango!!!! I love playing Finnish Tangos. Also, most Finnish music lends itself very well to Mandolin.
Also, there is a style of Finnish music called Koustinen Fiddle Music, that originates from the Koustinen area of Finland.(There is also a city called Koustinen.) It tends to be very Swedish influenced, but yet still retains the Finnish feel.
In Koustinen there is a GIANT (10 day)Folk music festival every mid-July, called: Koustinen Folk music Festival. Almost the Wintergrass/IBMA Awards of Finnish Folk Music.
So Mandolin players, check out Finnish music also as you look into Scandinavian Folk music, you will be very rewarded!!

You may resume your regularly scheduled Swedish conversation here:

[otterly2k]

Sorry guys, but unless your playing Medieval Polkska's, to me Swedish Fiddle tunes can get a little monotonus a boring, DGA DGA DGA...(But I still like them)

gee, the stuff I've been listening to is not all like that.

but thanks for the great info re: Finnish stuff. I've been a fan of Varttina for years, and have started exploring the Finnish stuff too... just scratching the surface so far.

[tango_grass]

Sorry guys, but unless your playing Medieval Polkska's, to me Swedish Fiddle tunes can get a little monotonus a boring, DGA DGA DGA...(But I still like them)

gee, the stuff I've been listening to is not all like that.

but thanks for the great info re: Finnish stuff. #I've been a fan of Varttina for years, and have started exploring the Finnish stuff too... just scratching the surface so far.

Ahhh. Maybe I'm missing something, I've delved into so much Finnish, I havn't really had time to get into Swedish. #Why don't you give me some recommendations... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

For Finnish check out:
Arto Jarvela > http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
JPP
Ampron Prunni
Pekka Pentakeinen and Perrtu Pappanen
Toivo Karki
Unto Monenen(Composer of "Satumaa" the second national anthem of Finland http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # A Tango!!!)
And many more....

[mandocrucian]

Kaustinen Folk Festival (http://www.kaustinen.net/index.asp?luokka_id=141&main=1)

[tango_grass]

Kaustinen Folk Festival (http://www.kaustinen.net/index.asp?luokka_id=141&main=1)
Yea boy, great link.
I so desire to go there one of these years..

[Chadmills]

I'll second the recommendation for the Bjornsdottir/Reid cd, lovely stuff. Three tracks, 7,8,9 I think, will give a really good feel of why a polska is not a waltz. "Anglar" by Carina Normansson and Maria Jonsson is another wonderful cd. Quite quirky.

Yes there is some pretty straightforward Swedish music, but then you can just dig deeper and deeper...
"Unless you're playing polskas" Polskas are central and crucial!

Being primarily a fiddle music when written down it'll nearly always be notation, but you've got to listen to good players to get the feel. There's a decent book by Tom (or Ben?) Paley of two part arrangements. As with other styles a lot of people will tell you it's crucial to learn it by ear. There's a lot in that. Tradition says that you shouldn't play the accompanying second line (normally played by the "senior" player in the duo) until you've taught the tune to someone else.
The Gardeby tune is a lovely tune at the "light" end of the spectrum. There are said to be words to it in Swedish which run "aren't you sick of this tune yet?"
It's a great music to get into, best of luck.
Tom

[fatt-dad]

Just for the record, the correct spelling is: Björnsdotter (that's an "e" rather than an "i" at the end of her name. I have alot of "dotters" in my family tree (and a few "sons" too).

fatt grandson-of-Karl-Bengtsson-from-Forshaga dad

p.s., downloaded a few tabs to get started and a pickin' buddy gave me a local contact that plays Swedish fiddle tunes.

[otterly2k]

my bad re: the misspelling... I saw my mistake when I went looking for her website.
She actually lives in my area, and my friend who is studying Swedish fiddling is studying with her.

[fatt-dad]

HERE (http://www.tvfolk.net/) is a link that has video of various tunes from different countries. Click on the Swedish flag for a video tune list.

f-d

[trickcyclist]

I very much doubt you'll find any swedish folk in mando tab, unfortunately. Mandolin isn't an 'approved' traditional Swedish instrument. They have a sort of governing body of folk music (like the Irish CCE with the Fleadhs) which tries very hard to protect the old traditions. They award medals, but only for doing a traditional regional style in a traditional regional way on (you guessed it) traditional regional instruments. Which i suppose is fair enough as they are trying to stop their music vanishing. So you might have to learn to read sheet music to a degree.
The good news is there is lots and lots of fiddle sheet music (theres 24 volumes of Svenska Låtar - Swedish Tunes - which were collected last century and are the Swedish folk bible), but unless it's an even polska it's practicaly impossible to learn the tune off the page without a recording unless you already know the style very well.
One good resource is the book and cd 'Music and Dances from Sweden' from the Yorkshire Dales Workshop (http://www.glusburn.demon.co.uk/). The cd is good enough to listen to in its own right as well, it's not just a slow and boring play through of the tunes. There's also some tunes on the nyckelharpa website below, some of which are done as mp3s and pdf sheet music.
Good luck with it, once the Swedish bug has bitten I know it doesn't let go easily. And it can sound good on a mandolin too. I find it easier to put in the '1 and 3' polska beat than the fiddlers sometimes as it's dead easy for me just to catch the lower string as well, whereas sometimes their bow is moving in the wrong direction for that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Jon

[tango_grass]

HERE (http://www.tvfolk.net/) is a link that has video of various tunes from different countries. #Click on the Swedish flag for a video tune list.

f-d
Oh my gosh http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
What a great link!!! Thank you!!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[JeffD]

I'm a big fan of Vasen, Frifot, Frigg, Harv, Swap (I know, looks like an IKEA catalog) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I didn't get this reference till last weekend - when I went in my first IKEA.

OMG. I was cracking up.

[PhilGE]

This notation was produced from an ABC file. The tune is Hargaluten, a Hambo. I hope this helps.

[PhilGE]

Here's a sound file of the same tune - I think! :-)

[Taube Marks]

Tom Paley's son Ben published a book (then with audio tapes) with Dragonfly Music up in the northeast of the UK, Newcastle or Jesmond area, and it is all Swedish fiddle tunes, written in notation, not tab, but it is a great resource. I can provide further details tomorrow if you cannot find it on the net.

ben paley ~fiddle
Ben's a fabulous young fiddle player who readily immerses himself in activities as diverse as Scandinavian music, revivalist oldtime (with his father in the New Deal String Band) and the vibrant acoustic thrash of McDermotts 2 Hours and the Levellers.

Born in London, Ben Paley was surrounded by traditional music from the outset: his father (Tom Paley, one of the great figures of the American folk revival), mother (singer Claudia Gould) and step-father (Ron Gould, writer on jazz, country and folk music) were all enormous influences. Ben has been playing the fiddle music of the USA, Sweden and Ireland since he was six years old.

Ben and his family returned to England, and he discovered Swedish fiddle music and Punk Rock. Some years later he washed up in Brighton: hanging out at Irish sessions; busking; touring the UK, US and Europe; playing recording sessions, festivals and folk-clubs; and playing for more bands than he can possibly remember, including buskers Anton the Aardvark's Hot Knives and Cyril the Squirrel's Sock Suspenders, and the infamous death-metal-bluegrass outfit and festival favourites The Wild Turkey Brothers.

His collection of Swedish fiddle tunes is the standard work on the subject in this country.

He has toured widely with his father Tom (founder-member of the New Lost City Ramblers) and recorded with Bing Lyle, psychedelic dance-merchants Mandragora, The Saw Doctors, poet Murray Lachlan Young and The New Deal String Band.

He also found time to play and record with such people as Damon Albarn and Michael Nyman on the Fox feature film Ravenous, theatre company dreamthinkspeak & The Levellers.

Currently he's working in a duo with Tab Hunter; with poet, playwright and songwriter Nick Burbridge in McDermott's 2 Hours; and Joe Locker in the New Deal String Band; and in English dance band The Sussex Pistols, amongst other things.



“...just about the best folk fiddler of his generation” fROOTS

“Clean, fresh and inventive” Dirty Linen

“Lovely intonation, supple wrist and fluid bowing, pulsing, lilting rhythm and a superb ear for melody and counter-melody” Jim Younger

http://www.blazingstrings.com



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or you can look at the text below and contact Ben directly to see if it is still available.

Ben Paley and Tab Hunter

Ben Paley : (Fiddle)
Tab Hunter : (Guitar, Singer/Songwriter, Jews Harp)

Ben and Tab have been playing together for long enough to know better, first in Brighton scratch-band the Aardvarks, later in the infamous bluegrass-rockers The Wild Turkey Brothers (who toured in support of The Levellers and Chumbawumba). Their duo work includes the launch of Evolving Traditions 2, Mrs Casey Music's compilation of the best of young British folk musicians, at the Barbican; working with Damon Albarn and Michael Nyman on the music for the Fox feature film Ravenous, and supplying incidental music for Channel 4's Grand Designs.

They have impressed audiences at Fulbeck International Fiddle Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week and Brigg Fiddle Festival with sensitive interpretations of traditional tunes from the British Isles, Europe and America: their range of material reflects their shared love of all traditional music, and they play Irish, American, Swedish and Eastern-European tunes with equal measures of passion, skill and authenticity.

BEN (described by Folk Roots as "just about the best folk-fiddler of his generation") has been playing the fiddle music of the USA, Sweden and Ireland since he was six years old. He has toured widely with his father Tom (founder-member of the seminal New Lost City Ramblers) and recorded with Bing Lyle, Mandragora, The Saw Doctors, Murray Lachlan Young and The New Deal String Band. His collection of Swedish fiddle tunes (Swedish Fiddle Music, an Anthology published by Dragonfly Music) has become the standard work on the subject in this country.

TAB has gained his breadth of experience as a guitarist (flat-picker and accompanist), songwriter and recorded jews' harpist as a soloist and in duos and bands in the tradition, from Irish music to death-blue-metal-grass, through klezmer, jazz, Old Time and Scandinavian folk music. His playing has taken him to perform all over Europe, including England's prestigious Edale and North Wales bluegrass festivals. He has appeared on television and on BBC Radio.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1273 480905

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www.blazingstrings.com


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