How to Listen to Traditional Swedish Music
Roots music has experienced a genuine revival since the turn of the century. This has produced a growing awareness and appreciation for all kinds of folk and cultural traditions. Folk music venues have sprung up in major and smaller-sized cities, record labels dedicated to folk music have expanded, and the Internet has open the door to radio sources and online sites dedicated to music. The result is that there are many opportunities to listen to traditional Swedish music. It just takes a little time and effort to find them.
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Instructions
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Attend performances of traditional Swedish music at your local folk music venue. Many cities have venues dedicated to preserving folk musical traditions. They provide live performances, dances, workshops and lectures. Acoustic music stores will also host performances and workshops. Ask questions about traditional Swedish music, ask advice about what recordings to search for, and ask about folk music magazines that may write about Swedish music. Libraries also organize cultural events. This may provide another opportunity enjoy a live performance. Libraries often encourage recommendations and suggestions from their patrons.
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Compile a CD and record collection. Also use online resources. You will find radio stations that feature traditional Swedish music as part of their programming. Two websites that give you access to Swedish radio programs are Multilingualbooks.com and Listenlive.eu. You will find a list of Swedish radio programs and a description of the programming. Another valuable online resource is Folksylinks.it. This provides a list of contemporary Swedish folk musicians and will direct you to their websites.
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Visit Swedish music festivals in the United States. There was a large number of Swedes who immigrated to the United States in the 1800s and established their own communities. The majority of Swedish immigrants relocated to the upper Midwest, with smaller groups settling in the lower Midwest. Midwestern towns with strong Swedish roots like to celebrate their cultural heritage by holding local town festivals in which music plays a major role. The festivals are usually in the summertime. Check out the "Midsummer's Day Festival" in Lindsborg, Kansas. Lindsborg refers to itself as Little Sweden USA.
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Visit Darlana, Sweden. If you have fallen in love with Swedish culture and can afford a trip to Sweden, plan a visit to Darlana. Darlana is in the center of Sweden and is the center of the Swedish folk music tradition. Sweden's most famous painter was Anders Zorn, who lived between 1860 and 1920. He was the founder of the Swedish Folk Festival, which is still held in Darlana.The "Zorn Award" is the most prestigious award that a Swedish folk musician can receive.
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