One Last Culture Post

For this blog I chose to go with traditional Norse music simply because I think that this culture is fascinating. I’m also trying to read some of the mythology that goes with this culture as lately I’ve just been pulled to it. In this blog I’m going to be going over some of the history, and the instruments used. In my research into this topic, I have found it would also mention another culture that I wrote about earlier in the semester. Both are well tied together. I am no longer able to find the article which stated this, which makes me sad, because I don’t even remember what I typed into Google to find it in the first place.

Some of the instruments used in traditional Norse music are the Hardingfele, the Seljefløyte and the Kantele. The Hardingfele is the national instrument of Norway. It’s one of the few instruments that I found in my research that originated in Norway and not in another Scandinavian country. I never would have thought that a nation would have a national instrument. It could also be called the Hardanger fiddle. And it is like a violin or viola. It’s also Norway’s most famous exports. It’s different from a violin or viola because of the wood it is made from, the wood for the Hardingfele is significantly thinner. It has eight or nine strings compared to four on a violin. The second instrument, the Seljefløyte is a rather simple instrument that has only three holes. A plug goes into the mouthpieces and then you cover and uncover the other two to produce tones. Another name for it would be the willow flute. It is used in traditional folk songs. The Kantele is the third instrument I’m going to go over; it originated in Finland but Norwegians value it as an integral part of their musical heritage. It is in two sizes, the small and the concert size. The small size has less than fifteen strings while the concert size can have up to forty strings. There is just one other instrument I would like to go over, and it is the Tungehorn. It’s another rather simple instrument, made from either a goat or cow horn with a single reed inserted into it. It’s not widely known or used in Norwegian folk music, but I still find it to be an interesting instrument. 

Now onto some history of traditional Norse music. I know you are probably rolling your eyes at this part, but I promise it’s important. Music was an important part of life in the Viking period. It played a role at gatherings and was played all through society, from the poorest farm to the wealthiest aristocrat. One source state that Nordic folk music is a vibrant and enchanting genre. I do agree with that statement, the music selection will show you why I agree with this statement. It is a style of music that incorporates various instruments, vocal styles, and storytelling techniques. This I believe is where a previous blog can be incorporated in this. As the joik of the Sami people is a way of telling a story.  I believe that the oldest account we have of the human voice in these songs is by the Arabic traveler al-Tartushi from the 900s. From his records, the song that he heard was a terrible song that was reminiscent of a dog’s howl, but more bestial.

Another name for Nordic music is Viking music. I found this interesting for the fact that any of the Scandinavian seafaring pirates and traders, who raided and settled in many parts of northwestern Europe in the 8th–11th centuries. It is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Norse people. The melodies of the music range from spiritual chants and dance tunes to heroes and their epic adventures and mythologies. On a somewhat related side note, Skalds had a crucial role in preserving the musical traditions of the Vikings. Skalds were the poets that wrote and composed stories and music.  

Some resources that skalds had were eddas and sagas. These resources were rich with stories that could be made into songs. Many of the ones that survived had detailed descriptions of the performances, so that even today someone could act it out just as they had back in ancient times. Eddas and sagas also helped to preserve Viking history and culture. 

I’d bet that when you thought of Viking music, you didn’t think it would be stories or even history. You’d probably been thinking it was more war drums and battle chants? Or that traditional Norse music had so much Viking history in it? I knew going into this that it was likely to pop up because who doesn’t think about the Scandinavian countries being Vikings. In fact, from what I’ve learned Vikings were pretty much only Scandinavians or people from other Baltic countries. I was quite please when the Sami people popped up in my research about this culture because I knew that the Sami are the indigenous peoples of the Scandinavian countries. 

There is even a little on the history of war drums and battle chants. War drums could be heard echoing across the battlefield to help warriors maintain a cohesive unit. Battle chants were a big part of Viking warfare because it was used to help rally the troops. And battle chants could also be used while on the sea, as Vikings are a seafaring people, to help keep time while rowing.

So that’s it for my blog on traditional Norse music. It was nice to read that the Sami had a hand in this culture’s music. I did find it interesting that like most if not all of the other cultures we learned about in class, this one wasn’t much different. Especially that they use music to pass down stories and history from one generation to the next. I didn’t know that Viking culture was another name for Norse or even Nordic culture.

Bibliogragphy:

Exploring Nordic Sounds: What is Viking Music Called?

https://viking.style/exploring-nordic-sounds-what-is-viking-music-called/

10 Traditional Norwegian Musical Instruments - Hello Music Theory

1. Hardingfele (Hardanger Fiddle) Otherwise known as the Hardanger fiddle, the Hardingfele is a uniquely Norwegian instrument similar to a violin or viola. Not only is it one of Norway’s most famous exports, but the hardingfele is also Norway’s national instrument. The hardingfele is different from its stringed cousins in a couple of ways.

https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/norwegian-instruments

The Danish Music Museum

The Danish Music Museum was founded in 1898, and the exhibition includes musical instruments from Europe, Asia, and Africa from the Bronze Age, up through history and through to the 21st century. Some of the beautiful instruments can also be seen at Historical Knowledge - Themes - Musik. Library, Archives and Photo Collection

https://en.natmus.dk/museums-and-palaces/the-danish-music-museum

Explore the History and Culture of Nordic Folk Music | Pianity

History and Cultural Significance. Nordic folk music has evolved over time as each country developed its distinct musical identity. This evolution was influenced by historical events, social changes, and regional characteristics. For centuries, Nordic folk music has been a medium for preserving and sharing old myths, legends, and stories across ...

https://pianity.com/tag/nordic-folk

Music Of The Viking Era, Its Instruments, And How It Was Performed

Watch on Even though there’s little information regarding the tunes that the Norsemen once sang, the musical instruments that they used are known. Thus, some of these instruments include: the lyre (a different, somewhat smaller and lighter prototype developed independently from the Greco-Roman ones in Scandinavia);

https://www.thedockyards.com/music-viking-age