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In above posted Childsplay Lesson video: Tune in video is called Eklunda Polska #3. It’s a nice tune. I only know it because I came across it on YouTube at some point with this guy playing it on the mandolin:
I had never heard the term Contra dance before. I thought when she said it in the video, that it meant square dancing, but I looked up the differences. I’ve been really clueless on folk music—I’m feeling smarter now. 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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I think I found a treasure of "5-string" instruments used in some Swedish music! May be of interest to Cellists and Violists as well as us Fiddlers! (cid, AndrewH, Ilona, JohnBAngel, wtw)Mikael Marin (of the band "Väsen" - Sweden) can usually be seen playing his 5 String Viola. Here, he plays some old (1700's - 1800's) tunes along with some of his original compositions, but on his new favorite instrument, a 5-string "Violoncello Da Spalla"!
Part 01:
I'm partial to Marin's originals "Old Man Waltz" and "Josefin", 2nd & last of his 4 tunes, here -
Part 02:
Info on Violoncello Da Spalla:
- Emily
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Now, here's some of Mia Marine's (Sweden) music.
I had run across Mia's music early w/my "Mortimer" - was awestruck by her two, 5-string fiddles (different tunings).
Here's a tutorial, with a great story behind it, for "Farängladagen" (Mia Marine)!
There's SO much more of Mia Marine's music to love... some fast, some slow... my "learn to play" List is growing OUT OF CONTROL!
- Emily
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I'm on a roll!
This next one ROCKS! Uses some "chops", too!
It's a mini tutorial for "Schottis från Haverö" with Emelie Waldken. She plays on the Nyckelharpa for this video - no problem on the fiddle. This tune is easy to pick up by ear, but Emelie offers sheet music.
I really like this! Hope you'll check out other Swedish music with Emelie - she usually gives a little info on where each tune comes from, too.
- Emily
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Wow, that Violoncello Da Spalla is really interesting. 😮 I have never seen or even heard about that instrument!
Would be handy travel-cello, much easier to carry with you 😂
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Ilona -
I've seen "Violoncello da Spalla" also called a "Violino Grande", sounds great in Swedish music & nice it is tuned like a cello - 1 Octave lower than a Viola. It sounds very full but I don't know if it projects as well (or better?) than an "Octave Viola" or a Cello.
- Emily
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From Finland, a schottis/reinlender "Sirkkojen Tanssi" (Viljo Vesterinen)!
"The Grasshoppers' Dance" starts out the same as another popular tune "Istukka" - discussed in video.
This is a tutorial, you can hear the full tune about 9 min in - maybe hear a little of the Finnish Tango influence?
Ilona, have you heard of this one?
A little info on "Schottis/Reinlender"!
- Emily
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I didn´t recognice this "Sirkkojen tanssi" first, because I have heard it played only by accordion. Viljo Vesterinen is very famous of being excellent accordion player.
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Thanks Ilona,
I remember hearing about it being originally written for accordion.
By the way, so glad to hear how everything seems to be going so much better for you, now!
I just started trying to learn Mikael Marin's "Old Man Waltz" (Post #43, Part 02, 2nd tune) that he plays on his "Violoncello da Spalla".
The Violoncello da Spalla is supposed to be tuned like a cello with the 5th string a higher E (a lower octave version of my 5-string violin, "Mortimer") - but I'm not so sure he hasn't tuned down a 5th further (FCGDA). I can see most of his fingering in the video - I just have to compensate for the few lowest notes if he did tune down.
I thought about changing the tuning of my "Mortimer", but it seems silly for just 1 waltz.
- Emily
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Thank you HP - for sharing this beautiful Norwegian folk tune from your upcoming wedding!
"Kjæresten min" (brudemarsj).
"Dalakopa" has recorded a huge treasury of folk tunes - I just haven't had time to listen to them all (yet)!
https://www.youtube.com/channe.....Q/featured
- Emily
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I want to apologize!
I had posted (now deleted) a YouTube link for "Sympathetic Strings" (26 min PBS Doc) - I just found it's no longer available. If I find it available again, I'll post it. Sorry!
Did anyone see it before the link went bad?
I thought it was very interesting to learn the unique properties of why/how the Hardanger Fiddle is made to project more than the common fiddle.
How cool to have young people learn to make their own fiddle - seems to really help instill appreciation for the culture and the craft - as well as for the music!
- Emily
"In Sympathetic Strings, a film by Pioneer PBS, meet fiddle makers, musicians, dancers and apprentices from throughout Minnesota (and North Dakota) who form a passionate, close-knit community of folk tradition practice surrounding the Hardanger fiddle."
Aired: 05/28/20
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Some tunes I listen to alot lately:
Halling etter P.A. Olsen Stensland is the first halling I learned to play, it's quite fun to play. Halling is a type of Norwegian folk dance.
This tune is called the Devil in Setesdal, typically played on jaw harp, but occationally on fiddle as well.
Harding/halling fiddle. Typically used in Norwegian folk.
'Armed with theory, practice becomes meaningful. Through practice, theory becomes fulfilled.' - Egon von Neindorff.
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HP -These are great - I love all the information!
I'm definitely going to learn at least one of them. I mostly learn by listening, but if you ever have any sheet music to share, I'm sure the other Forum members would love it.
I saw a video of a Halling for the first time about a month ago - it was amazing! Unbelievable athletes!
Thank you so much for sharing the videos.
- Emily
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(edited, fixed the link)
GregW -
Did you catch "Den Fyrste Gongen Eg Såg Deg" (Earlybird Stringband)?
Earlybird Stringband Biography
Think I just found a new favorite Norwegian band!
- Emily
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ELCB said
GregW -
Did you catch "Den Fyrste Gongen Eg Såg Deg" (Earlybird Stringband)?
https://www.last.fm/music/Earl.....nd/+wiki
Think I just found a new favorite Norwegian band!
yeah good stuff @hp they remind me of The Wayfarers from Ohio. From what I found they are mostly bluegrass type stuff? Lasso Folk focused on Norwegian folk. Think I got that right.
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ELCB said
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
It’s used a lot in Irish session playing as well, the tuning that is. I use it myself sometimes when I play my bouzouki, along with Gdad tuning
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Hi stringy - Thanks for that info!
You might be interested in a fairly recent thread I started "Cross Tuning on the Fiddle" in "Country" under heading "Genre" (I had to stick it somewhere, lol).
"Lassofolk" by Earlybird Stringband, a nice Halling in there, - thanx, Greg!
- Emily
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Here's a nice Hambo from Finnskogarna (Finn Forests) of Svärdsjö/Enviken (Sweden).
"Första frukost" (First Breakfast). "First Breakfast" is a shot of liquor!
"Central Sweden’s inaccessible coniferous forests are a unique part of Sweden. A part that we call the Finn Forest and which at the end of the 16th century was home to a mythical people. The Forest Finns, or the ‘slash and burn’ Finns as they were also called, emigrated from Finland and transformed the undeveloped forest into farmland. They carried out ‘slashing and burning’, clearing the way for crofts and farms, lived in smoke cottages and took smoke saunas. They gave Finnish names in the surrounding landscape and also shaped the culture and history of the region. The Forest Finns were assumed to have magical powers, they believed in nature spirits and with incantations, sacrifices and rituals they remained friends with the forest gods." (finnskogarna)
- Emily
Please let me know if I ever have something wrong or disputed!
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ELCB said
HP -I'm definitely going to learn at least one of them. I mostly learn by listening, but if you ever have any sheet music to share, I'm sure the other Forum members would love it.
I saw a video of a Halling for the first time about a month ago - it was amazing! Unbelievable athletes!
Thank you so much for sharing the videos.
Unfortunately I don't have any sheet music for it, since I was taught in person.
I noticed there's a lot of Finnish music in this thread, and I would like to note that Finland isn't scandinavian and finnish folk music isn't part of scandinavian folk music. Scandinavia is a dialect continuum, meaning it has to have similar language to be part of it. Norwegians, Swedes and Danes can talk with each other with their own mother tongue. A Finnish person can't speak with a Norwegian, Swede or Dane, nor the other way around. Same goes for Iceland, even though both Iceland and Finland is part of the Nordics.
'Armed with theory, practice becomes meaningful. Through practice, theory becomes fulfilled.' - Egon von Neindorff.
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