Tunes for listening...

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 Vals etter Johannes Sundnes (Waltz in the manner of Johannes Sundnes)

First Fiddle (conventional): Julane Lund (Beetham)

Second Fiddle (conventional): Ingebjørg Vestrum

Guitar: Øystein Sandbukt

This waltz is from Levanger (in Trøndelag), Norway.  The musicians on this recording have all been members of the Norwegian group "Totak" and this waltz is featured on their cd, "Fest på låven!" ("Party at the Barn!").

 Napoleon's March

Hardanger Fiddle (solo): Julane Lund

Julane learned this tune from a great tradition bearer; Harold Sorenson, of Climax, Minnesota.  This march can be found on her new cd, "Looking Back at Norwegian-American Old-Time Fiddling in the Heartland."

 Gammel Svensk Vals (Old Swedish Waltz)

Conventional Fiddle (solo): Julane Lund (Beetham)

This waltz was played in Nordmøre, Norway before it was brought to Washington state by Norwegian immigrants.  In 1949 a fiddler in Washington named Oskar Torske played this tune while his daughter transcribed it.  She sent her transcriptions back to Nordmøre, where the musicians in the local fiddle club began playing the tune again. Julane's rendition is found on the cd "Fest på låven!"

 Norwegian Polka

Hardanger Fiddle: Julane Lund

Pump Organ: Beth Hoven Rotto

Guitar: Jon Rotto

Upright Bass: Bill Musser

This polka is known by various names depending on the area of America that Norwegians settled.  It has been played by Norwegian-American fiddlers Archie Teigan, of Brainerd, Minnesota, and Anund Roheim, of Black Eagle, Montana. The musicians accompanying on this tune, Beth Hoven Rotto, Jon Rotto, and Bill Musser, are members of the Scandinavian-American band "Foot-notes" out of Decorah, Iowa. The "bouncy" rhythmic character of this rendition is typical of Norwegian-American music. It is featured on the new cd "Looking Back at Norwegian-American Old-Time Fiddling in the Heartland."

 Craig's Waltz

Conventional Fiddle: Julane Lund

Tenor Banjo: LeRoy Larson

This tune was composed by LeRoy Larson, Norwegian-American composer and banjo player, in honor of his friend, Minnesota fiddler, Craig Ruble.  Craig had played as the lead fiddler in Larson's band, the Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble, before dying of cancer.  Because Craig enjoyed tunes that were challenging to play, Larson incorporated runs of accidentals in his composition.  Ragtime rhythms and dissonant chords make it a Norwegian-American showpiece.  This tune has not yet been recorded for a commercially available CD.