Folk Music From Norway

Folk Music From Norway

Today is the Norwegian National Day 

Constitution Day is the national day of Norway and is an official public holiday observed on 17 May each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to as Syttende Mai ("Seventeenth of May"), Nasjonaldagen ("National Day"), or Grunnlovsdagen ("Constitution Day"), although the latter is less frequent.

The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark–Norway's devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars. This established a Union between Sweden and Norway.

The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and others from early on. However, Norway was at that time in a personal union with Sweden (following the Convention of Moss in August 1814, by which they shared a monarch as separate nations) and for some years the King of Sweden and Norway was reluctant to allow the celebrations. For a few years during the 1820s, King Charles XIV John actually banned it, believing that celebrations like this were, in fact, a kind of protest and disregard, even revolt, against the union. The king's attitude changed after the Battle of the Square in 1829, an incident which resulted in such a commotion that the king had to allow commemorations on the day.

It was, however, not until 1833 that public addresses were held, and official celebration was initiated near the monument of former government minister Christian Krohg, who had spent much of his political life curbing the personal power of the monarch. The address was held by Henrik Wergeland, thoroughly witnessed and accounted for by an informant dispatched by the king himself.

After 1864 the day became more established when the first children's parade was launched in Christiania, at first consisting only of boys. This initiative was taken by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, although Wergeland made the first known children's parade at Eidsvoll around 1820. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join in the parade for the first time. In 1905, the union with Sweden was dissolved and Prince Carl of Denmark was chosen to be King of an independent Norway, under the name Haakon VII. Obviously, this ended any Swedish concern for the activities of the National Day.

During World War II when Norway was under occupation by the Nazis, it was strictly forbidden for Norwegians to celebrate 17 May, participate in any procession, or to use the colors of the Norwegian flag on clothes. At the liberation on 8 May 1945, the Norwegian flag therefore became a strong symbol of Norway’s freedom.

By historical coincidence, World War II ended in Norway nine days before Constitution Day on 8 May 1945, when the occupying German forces surrendered. Even if Liberation Day is an official flag day in Norway, the day is not an official holiday and not widely celebrated. Instead, a new and broader meaning has been added to the celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day on 17 May to reflect the victory over Nazi oppression.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

(MP3 changed to FLAC)

Tracklist:

Side 1

Slåttar Frå Voss

Lars Skjervheim

1. Springar Etter Sjur Helgeland (Grindeguten) 2:35

2. Vossarull Etter Ola Mosafinn 2:35

3. Nøringen, Brureslått 1:35

4. Kjepphesten, Springar 2:33

5. Rekveen, Rull Etter Nils Rekve 2:06

6. Sjur I Dammen, Springar Etter Sjur Helgeland 2:29

7. Gamleslåtten, Brureslått Etter Sjur Helgeland 2:00

8. Havbrusen, Springar Etter Sjur Helgeland 2:53

9. Bjølleslåtten, Brureslått Etter Ola Mosafinn 3:55

10. Storeslåtten, Halling Etter Sjur Helgeland 2:56

Side 2

Slåttar Frå Valdres

Torleiv Bolstad

11. Springar Etter Bustebakken 1:46

12. Lea Deg, Lea Deg, Gamle Ola, Halling 1:48

13. Springar I Øystre Slidre-Form 2:20

14. Ho Guro, Lydarslått Etter Nils Beitohaugen 2:19

15. Purkekragen, Springar 2:17

16. Jonsokdagen, Springar 2:35

17. Gamle Brureslåtten Hans Jørn Hilme 3:05

18. Sykjegulen, Springar Etter Bendik I Nøen 2:29

19. Fagerdalen, Springar Etter Ola Okshovd 2:51

20. Lydarslått Etter Ola Okshovd 1:17

21. Den Store Salmen, Springar 1:12