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I've been meaning to bring this subject up for a while.
I fell in love with Scandinavian (+ Finnish) fiddle music early with my "Mortimer" (5-string) and have found some great resources to share. These countries have a very rich history of fiddle music - I touched on some in the "Reginal Influence of Old Time in North Carolina" thread.
I currently play Swedish tunes "Gaseborg", "Lagardspolska" and "Boda Valsen" - Norwegian "Bergrosa" and Finnish (Finsk) "Emma's Vals". Almost forgot Fiddlerman's tutorial "A Tune a Week #26" - "Sommarpolska"!*
I need to know if it's worth asking Fiddlerman to start a "new genre" or if a discussion should just be stuck somewhere else?
Anyone else interested in learning more about Scandinavian Fiddle music?
- Emily
*It's been a year now, since I started this topic!
I have learned SOOO MANY of the tunes posted in these related threads - and still more on my list, that I haven't gotten to, yet!
Great music here! 🥰
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Just let me know. It's not hard to start it. We could remove it if it's dead but its perhaps too small a genre for this gang. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman -
Thanks! Yes, I would like to try to spark some interest (lol)!
I was hoping you might also share more music you have played from the region.
Ilona - I would love the sheet music for "Ulv, räv, hare"!
Thank you for sharing "Ulv, räv, hare" (Swedish) in the "New Group Projects 2020"!
- Emily
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I don’t know a lot of Scandinavian tunes—I’ve heard some of the Swedish walking tunes (Ganglat)—here’s a couple:
I like how they’re just sitting around a kitchen table drinking wine, & playing their fiddles. Seems to be the right way to do it.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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ELCB said
Ilona - I would love the sheet music for "Ulv, räv, hare"!Have you heard "Emma's Vals"? It's traditional Finnish music.
Here's my favorite version. I can play the basic melody, but still working on some of the bowing to play like this -
Yes I have heard this! I have actually played this too, not with my cello (maybe I should try it) but I had the accordion a long time ago.
I will scan the sheet music for Ulv, räv, hare on the weekend and then send it to you!
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Ilona - Thank you very much!
SharonC - Thank you for those great tunes! I'm interested in learning the 2nd one.
The extra fiddles on the table makes me think they might be using a different tuning here. I'll have to check closer, sometimes I can tell when I try to play it.
Here's an interesting excerpt from the link below I originally posted in another thread.
"Like in Norway, Swedish fiddlers often use the natural or untempered scale. This means that some notes are played slightly sharp or flat to what you would expect, for example, from a conventionally tuned piano. This relates partly to the extensive use of open strings, to the historic link to sounds such as the willow-bark flute, and to the early tradition of fiddle as a solo instrument. As an example, the (normally) flattened seventh note of a minor scale, is often played slightly sharp, especially if it is leading up to the tonic. Sometimes the tuning will be different going up to coming down".
"Fiddling Around the World - Scandinavia"
http://www.fiddlingaround.co.u.....index.html
I'm fascinated by the uneven Swedish Polskas & their Nyckelharpa, Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle with 26 tunings, and the influence of Russia on Finland's Fiddle music!
Here's 2 fun tunes I like to play from the "Järfällasvit" CD (Sweden) - "Lagardspolska" and "Gaseborg". Not hard - I just learned by ear.
Järfälla Spelmän has wonderful (lengthy) performances on YouTube to view.
- Emily
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This discussion reminds me: I really love the Danish String Quartet's arrangements of Scandinavian fiddle tunes. About ten years ago they went on a crowdfunded trip around Scandinavia gathering local tunes, and arranged them into at least two collections that they've both recorded and sold sheet music for. They're also known for playing their fiddle arrangements as concert encores.
Possibly some group project fodder?
Here are a few of the arrangements:
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good stuff! @andrewh...especially old reinlender...
Emily @ELCBK i think gaseborg is the halloween tune youve been looking for. spooky
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AndrewH -
Geez...I forgot about Denmark! Have you played any of these?
I really like ALL 4 & started to look further into the "Danish String Quartet" - found some great info in the descriptions of their compositions at "Sheet Music Plus" (of all places)! Did you know a "Six Tour" is a dance? I could see a Group Project here...
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com.....+Quartet
GregW - ...I'm not going there 
(looks like I'll just be learning/playing Halloween music by myself).
I have noticed (and like) many examples of Scandinavian music (like Gaseborg) that start out dark - then it surprises me, right in the middle, with a weirdly cheerful part!
PS. I corrected the link in my earlier post to "Fiddling Around the World - Scandinavia" - http://www.fiddlingaround.co.u.....index.html
- Emily
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Before we get any deeper into Scandinavian Fiddle tunes, here is a helpful video about potential fiddle tunings to be aware of in traditional music from Sweden and Norway!
- Emily
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@ELCBK we practiced this one last year. This is the only tune I know from that area. I Think its also known as Levan polka maybe? Its probably not considered in same style. I havent checked. This link has the sheet music and a play along with adjustable speed.
https://wellington.session.nz/.....polka.html
Here is a youtube of it. the first part seems the same.. then either it goes into something else or another part. Theres some song versions out there if you start searching. Ive no idea what they are singing about so if its not PC sorry. too lazy to cut and paste in google translate today.
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GregW -
That's a GREAT (Finland) tune. The sheet music link you provided has a wonderful fiddle audio file with it (great Irish site, btw).
I think I'll have to learn this one!
Ilona -Thank you for that fantastic video! It not only shows some of Finland's fiddle traditions but also the huge emphasis on teaching kids! I can really appreciate this right now for my Grandkids.
Did you grow up in a house with a fiddle hanging on the wall? I never actually saw anyone play a fiddle/violin until I went to school - our school orchestra, even though we had a "family" violin (no one was still alive who played it) when I was young.
- Emily
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@ELCBK the Frigg in the UK at the bottom of your link seems so similar to what we have here. thanks for the link.
Ill try not to get off subject but thought id show what I mean.. She has a good website there is a lesson of sorts on there for this. Not saying same tune..or a version..just an example.
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last winter I went on a bit of a scandinavian fiddle tune kick ... one tune i discovered is this one :
I don't know what it is about it, but it almost feels like an old time tune. there's definitely more similarities in fiddle genres than we often recognize, i think
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ELCB said
AndrewH -Geez...I forgot about Denmark! Have you played any of these?
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com.....+Quartet
A group project was exactly what I was thinking. "Five Sheep, Four Goats" seems like a good candidate for this forum.
I have the sheet music for "Old Reinlender" and have practiced the viola part, but haven't played it in a quartet. The rhythms for the viola and cello are very tricky, especially working in the chops. I've also learned the first violin part of "Bosse Nordin's Schottis" by ear.
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@ClaireS i like that. btw..great playing on The Origin of the world. was that part of this style?
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GregW, ClaireS -
Thanks for pointing some possible Scandinavian roots of "Old Time" music here that we were talking about in the other "Old Time" thread.
"Mysoxen" has a great swing to it!
Here's a waltz from Sweden, "Boda Valsen". It seems popular here & I enjoy playing it (1st heard it on a Viola). There's also a great tutorial at Red Desert Fiddle on YouTube for this.
This Norwegian waltz, "Bergrosa" was composed by Sven Nyhus, but this is the version I fell in love with by Alexander Rybak (he has wicked fiddle skills). Started learning this a while back - just recently trying the double stops & still need to perfect some of the ornamentation here.
Sheet music is avail at Sheet Music Plus.
AndrewH - Great project idea!
- Emily
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