Studio Soundtrack 019: Scandinavian Folk

Studio Soundtrack features five songs selected by a student at Waterloo Architecture. This week, Samuel Ganton takes us deep into the strange world of Scandinavian traditional folk music. 

I’m not Scandinavian. But I did live in Sweden for three months – had my sixth birthday there, in fact. And ever since, I haven’t been able to get the sound of their music out of my mind. Since I play the violin, I’ve been particularly drawn to the region’s rich fiddling tradition. But the fantastic thing about the Scandinavian folk scene is how much crossover happens: it’s wildly inventive. Some bands write folk concertos with baroque complexity and play them with a full orchestra. Others adapt ancient ballads for electronic instrumentation. I’ve pulled together a smorgasbord sampling to give you a sense of the range.

1. Gjallarhorn – O-Vals

Let’s start weird. Gjallarhorn showcases the unusual rhythms and dancing quality of Finnish music, a combination of eastern and western influences. The instrumentation of the band is… unconventional, featuring viola, mandola, and a didgeridoo. 

2. Valravn – Kelling. 

Here’s one that heads in the electronic direction. Valravn layers traditional instruments on top of pulsing beats, paired with sharp, dramatic vocals.

3. Johan Hedin & Gunnar Idenstam – Halling IV.

I bet you don’t know what a nyckelharpa is. I further bet that you haven’t heard an organ played quite like this before. This is a punchy duet that builds up to church-scale intensity.

4. Brittany Haas & Lena Jonsson – Keeping the Cats Happy. 

While in Saskatchewan, of all places, I had the opportunity to take a couple short lessons with Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson. She and Brittany Haas have perfected a strange combination of Scandinavian and Old-Time American styles, resulting in harmonies and rhythms of stunning complexity. And it’s bouncy, and catchy. You can check out their entire duet album here.

5. Dreamers’ Circus – Carrousel Prime.

Dreamers’ Circus is, in their own words, “acrobatics and conjuring by three musical jugglers.” They’re a Danish band bridging between the classical and folk worlds. They often play with a full orchestra: this track is just accordion, fiddle, and cittern, but they spin it into something big and special and exciting. You can listen to more of their music here.

BONUS: More Circus – Dreamers’ Beginning. 

I lied when I said five tracks, apparently. Couldn’t resist giving you one more: if you want something longer and more orchestral, building tension and complexity from a quiet beginning to a wild finish… this track is for you. 20 MINUTES LONG – what could be better background for studio work?

Samuel Ganton

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Samuel Ganton is a graduate student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. His thesis research focuses on designing a thunderstorm observatory on a lake in Venezuela.

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