Folk music in Western Värmland, in a Scandinavian folk music tradition

Folk music in Western Värmland, in a Scandinavian folk music tradition

The folk music played in western Värmland varies but can be described as consisting of polska, reinländer (schottis), waltz, halling, as well as some polka and, to a lesser extent, also gånglåt and mazurka. Polska is a musical style in 3/4 time and also a folk dance. Truplets in the music are very common in the playing style in Värmland, as well as rhythmic staggered beats and musical drills and embellishments, which together make up a sort of melodic grammar. The style is referred to as a "värmlandspolska", "jössehärspolska", and it is also common to use more descriptive names such as "kort trea" or "kort etta" to showcase the rhythms. The music is played together or solo, and strongly associated with, but not dependent on, dance. The songs and the dance are learned in tradition, which is also evolving. Fiddles and violas are the most common instruments, as well as, for example, guitar, mandolas, harmonica, accordion and wind instruments.

Sara Olsson, Kajsa Stinnerbom

Swedish, Norwegian

Intangible

942

Västvärmländsk folkmusik, i en skadinavisk tradition

Sweden

The ability to play by ear requires knowledge. The folk music environment is notably driven by volunteers, amateurs, and culture bearers, some of whom may be professionals. The Swedish model of municipality-run music schools also plays an important role in transmission. Informal settings, including evenings for playing together, as well as events for playing and dancing, create an inclusive environment where professionals, amateurs, and new practitioners meet and play together.

Informal settings, music school, courses, friends and events.

There is a wide range of practitioners of all ages, where the love of the music and/or a particular tradition usually brings people together. Both older and younger are practitioners, and there is no gender division. Music education might sometimes not show the breadth of the field, and some are more drawn to solo or duo playing, while others (perhaps more men) are drawn to ensemble playing. People might also enter the scene of folk music from jazz.

Notably, many practitioners express a close, meaningful relationship to the dance, which, together with the music, makes up the folk music scene and culture, both on a local and a larger scale. Some practitioners say that playing a concert is meaningful first and foremost in relation to the presence of dance, whereas others express that it's only the playing that matters. Sometimes the music is referred to by some as "Gebrauchsmusik" or "bruksmusik" (Swedish). Folk music is also performed in churches, for concerts, as well as weddings and funerals.

Folk music has transformed in Värmland and has shifted through time. Important work has been done in the latter half of the 20th century through the gathering of information from older practitioners (by learning from them), which has made the traditions more vibrant. Polska, for example, was heavily influenced by modern songs and dances in the first half of the 20th century, whereas now it's a very much alive and thriving tradition.

Ingesund College of Music in Arvika, as well as several organisations that arrange dance evenings where "spelmän" and "spelkvinnor" (lit. playing men and playing women) or the gender neutral term and commonly used "folkmusiker" (lit. folk musician) are playing for sets. There's also "spelmanslag", a form of amateur organisations where players gather and play a repertoire together. On a national level organizations or actors such as: The Song Archive by National Collections of Music, Theater and Dance, "Svenska visarkivet", the Swedish Musical Heritage database by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, "Levande musikarkiv", as well as the Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore and the folk music centre Folkmusikens hus host archives.

Ingesund College of Music in Arvika, as well as several other places which one can access, such as hembygdsgårdar or bygdegårdar, are important places. Parties and events. Music makes people want to gather, and the places where music is played attract an audience.

Misappropriation

There might be a threat in that nationalists could misappropriate the expression of the music and use it as a tool for propaganda.

Insufficient remuneration

There is a culture of transferring knowledge for free and playing for free, so insufficient remuneration poses a threat to professional musicians

Loss of protective status

It has not lost its protective status, but it could be argued that it lacks one.

The western part of Värmland is rich in lakes and waterways that offer a nature experience and are an important part of local identity. It is a landscape in Värmland, and especially the western part (a cultural region consisting of Eda, Arvika, Årjäng municipality, with parts of Kil and Sunne municipalities) is characterised by countryside, smaller towns, villages, forests, lakes, mires, and agriculture. It is an area associated with culture largely because many artisans have lived there, the presence of folk high schools with cultural education, the Ingesund College of Music, and cultural organisations. This area has had close relations with Norway, which continue through trade, work, and cultural exchanges.

Music instruments, fiddles being the most common.

The practice unifies generations and people with its essence of learning through transmission, learning by ear, and playing together.

N/A

Good health and well-being,Sustainable cities and communities

Western part of Värmland, Sweden

performing arts,social practices, rituals and festive events

stable

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