Hello Alice

Trad music in Norway is not a big hit. In fact, at some point, it almost died out. 'Round the mid 1850's there was a great national and cultural revival, and at least some of our trad music was salvaged. When it was taken up again, it was done largely by puritans, who selectively chose only the "seriuos" stuff, and most of the more humourous songs and tunes were lost. Due to this, I think, we tend to be more partial to Irish music, which has got the whole repertoire, ballads, humourous songs, lively dance music And very sad songs of oppression and war.

Fortunately, there are a few young and incredible talented people who have done some very good recordings and concerts during the past few years. It has done a lot for our own trad music, but not nearly enough.

We don't have such a tragic history of oppression and war, as for instance Ireland has, and I think that that's part of the reason too. Music, like language, is basically what makes a country's identity. When a country is under oppression, language, religion and music are often the first things banned by the oppressors. And of course, that makes it all the more important for the people oppressed to keep and fight for their music, religion and language. We've just been too comfy up here to really understand how much of our identity is tied to music, and for that reason, we've let ourselves loose it.

I hope more young trad musicians will be given the opportunity to bring out their music. We need them.

Magpie