So, before I get back on track with 'Polskor', I tried to find out more about "Fingal". 

I'm now suspecting there might be 2 different bands by that name. 

There is the "Fingal" Trio that was formed here in the USA - New York 2006.  Two members are from Ireland and Randal Bays is the American that can play a mean Irish Fiddle!  Their music is distinctively Irish and they are known as a Traditional Irish Band.  Here's a little about how they got their name.

Musicians putting Fingal on the map in America

The 2nd, "Nordic Fingal" might be a single Artist or small group of musicians. 

The recording studio that mixed the music, Ljudsmulor, is in Sweden - which doesn't mean much because they have a diverse clientele - BUT, I think the vocals I've heard might be sung in Danish (pretty sure it's not German) and all this music is very different from the Irish/American group's.  Here's a playlist from the album, "Riv". 

Riv - Playlist

Have to admit I'm fascinated by "Fingal's Favorite"! 

Now, County Fingal in Ireland does have Viking history and it is a coastal area, so I suppose it's entirely possible the Traditional Irish band took a detour with their music. 😳🤪  ...but don't think so.

So, before I move on, back to Polskor... 

Does anyone know anything about this "Riv" album by "Fingal"? 

- Emily

In case anyone cares about progressing on speed with this tune, I got tired of crawling along. 

It's a day later, so I 1st played Fingals Poika Polska at half speed for a bit to warm up - then tried a little faster.  I wasn't really getting anywhere, so decided to try a different tactic.  Played along with the video at .75 speed, cold turkey, just doing the best I could with the 'B' part - not sure if I even kept up with half the notes! 

Kept trying... so, about an hour later I HAD IT!  Not pretty, but did it with all the right notes - several times, to make sure. (lol)  Okay, I'm gloating - but in all fairness, it was very hard for me!

Think I'll be at .75 speed for a while, to sound really good - before I try to go any farther.  I'm usually pretty happy settling at .75 speed on a Fiddle tune, for now.

Just wanted to make a point about pushing yourself to try something that is uncomfortable - if you want to change/improve, it's worth it! 

...can't believe I had to look up "farther vs. further". 😒 

- Emily

Yep, one of these days I'm gonna settle down & take online lessons from Mia Marine!!! 

...just moved this one here - Halloween's on it's way again!

"Polska efter Lomjansguten - Two voices" 

Excerpts from Mia's video description:

In Sweden, Halloween is a very newly imported thing, and many Swedes have been sceptical, thinking that it will replace our more serene version of All Hallows Eve, where we light candles on the graves and think about loved ones who have passed away. The two are very different, and on different dates, and I for one just love any reason for playing pretend games. Bring it on!

A Polska after legendary fiddler Per Jönsson Lumiainen, from Gräsmark, Värmland. Here in an arrangement by Mia Marine. There are more films in this lesson (slow melody, fast melody, sheet music) to be found at:
http://www.FiddleAcademy.com

"Typical Swedish traditions during Halloween and All Saints Day (alla helgons dag)!"

- Emily

Some of these Polskor (hard to not say Polskas 🤣) are very soothing tunes!

The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc - Polska Fra Delsbo 

...check out more of their music in the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc Thread! 

Trollpolska - played by Smörgåsklickarna. 

Näckens Polska - played by Pierrick Valence. 

Näckens Polska - abcnotation.com - 6 versions, sheet music notation & midi 

Troll Polska - abcnotation.com - 17 versions 

Trollpolska - thesession.org - 6 versions, notation & midi 

...found several possible "Polska från Delsbo" at Blue Rose (Polska search), but no time right now to verify if any are the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc tune.

So, I'm going to have to take a closer look at "Soundslice" - I really like that play-along (scrolling) notation can be sync'd to music videos!  It's everything I like, all in one spot! 

"Polska for Tom Morrow" - Väsen.   I'm THRILLED 🤗 to find the scrolling notation sync'd to the video for this tune in the Soundslice Community!  Not sure if the title is a play on the word 'tomorrow' (or a person), but it's a cool tune that changes between 4/4 & 3/4 time - changes key, too! 

I'm a huge fan of Väsen! 

Here's the YT video - OLOV JOHANSSON (Nyckelharpa), MIKAEL MARIN (5-string VIOLA), & ROGER TALLROTH (12-string Guitar)!  

🤔... I see some artists can be supported through the Soundslice Store - different instruments & genres.

Pigopolskan (The Polish Maid) 

Emelie Waldken teaches "Pigopolskan efter Pehr Hörberg" - the verson she learned from Anders Löfberg (Småland, Sweden). 

She teaches this tutorial in the Violin range - as a Slängpolska. 

There's free sheet music with audio at abcnotation.com (Pigopolskan). 

From Golden Gate Nordic Music & Dance - Slängpolska: 

The basic rhythm of this music is 3/4 time spread evenly between the 3 beats per measure. The first step is to feel the music with your entire body. To be able to do that, you have to use all your different muscles and bones in the foot and knee to get a “svikt”. The only way to get this svikt up into your body is to use short steps.

A clever musician never plays each pattern exactly the same each time and can even vary the way it is played during the same tune. For example, when a pattern is played the second time, there is a slight difference to the first time. Most of the change is either in the tempo or whether the tune is played evenly or with “note shortenings” (“synkoper”). The intensity during an 8-measure pattern can also vary with a peak in the middle. The only way to hear this is to listen and dance to different tunes. Synkoper are used a lot in tunes from Dalarna but also in some of the tunes from other areas.

I really like the way Emelia Amper plays Pigopolskan & Den glomda polskan (the Maid's Polska & The Forgotten Polska, starts at 2:09)!  I think it feels more 'baroque', but definitely has a driving . 

The strange thing I notice about "Pigopolskan" - says in Gm, but even though the A Part looks/sounds Gm, the B Part sounds/looks like the tonal center switches more to 'A' & all the E's (except for 1) are 'natural', but the last phrase still ends in G.  So, I'm not sure if I'm just hearing this tune switch from Gm to Gdor - doesn't really explain the 'A' thing... A phrygian?  Jeez, 5 (out of 8) B Part measures end in 'A'.

So does this tune feel like it 'modulates'?

I LOVE a good Polska, in fact I think this may now be my favorite kind of Nordic tune! 

...even if I can't differentiate between all the styles, yet. 

Here's the newest one I've taken a fancy to, "Jættepolska" from Trolska Polska (Danish/Swedish group)!