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Archive for June, 2009

All About Music And Dance Of Norway

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Although there is scant written record of what kind of music was played in Norway but there is a vast audio record which provides some insight to this. Minor or Modal scales with a sober and haunting sound form the music of Norway. There is very little written record to give the background of the origin and existence of music but it is learned that religious and traditional music prevailed. Like many other countries, Norway too experienced a revival in the 20th century. Ballads and short songs are the common types of traditional or folk songs.

Other popular kind of folk music is hymns, work songs, trialling vocals skillingsviser. Like the nearby countries of Sweden and Denmark, Norway too has a Nordic dance music tradition. The most distinctive instrument in Norwegian folk music is hardingfele. Bygdedans including halling, pols, springleik, rull, gangar and springar are the traditional dances of Norway. They were performed on important events such as weddings, funerals etc and were called the Courting Dances. Few dances were also brought from Europe like the fandango, reinlender, waltz polka and mazurka. Norwegian harp, bukkehorn, harpeleik, lur are a few other traditional instruments.

A movement throughout Europe, National Romanticism, affected classical musicians as well as the classical musicology. Bull was the first to present folk tunes to the public in urban areas. The urban audiences were slow in responding and understanding the traditional music. With the booming economy after the French Revolution, many foreign musicians settled in Norway and hence, contributed a lot to Norwegian music. Many female musicians were widely accepted and were paid well. Music post World War II addressed social and political concerns.

Many technological developments with a variety of electronic effects and peculiar instruments took place post World War II. By the end of the 20th century, Norwegian classical music had become very diverse, incorporating elements from throughout the country’s documented musical history, as well as modern jazz, pop and rock.

Useful Guide To A Sailing Charter In Norway

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Norway is a kingdom that is situated in the northern part of Europe. Together with Denmark and Sweden, Norway is part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The kingdom of Norway has a population of around 4 million, scattered on a total of 385,155 km. The Norwegian coast is a heaven for sailors with picturesque small towns and a coastline especially on the south coast filled with islands. The fjords and the mountainous landscape gives you the possibility to create interesting itineraries that are unique along the 1.200 nautical miles long coastline. The beauty of Norway doesn’t only depend on its mountains and fjords but also on the diversity of its islands, which makes sailing in Norway truly enjoyable. All you have to do is charter a yacht, and then you can give yourself one unique and memorable holiday for you and your family.

One of the most fascinating places to visit in Norway is Bergen. It is a small town, the income of which is much dependent on tourism. Perhaps the reason could be attributed to the fact that the city acts like a portal for the glamorous fjords that comprise Norway. Moreover, there are several amateur bands that tirelessly play all over the community. Hence, while you’re waiting for your charter to arrive, you can sit down and listen to these individuals play their own music.

Sailing in Norway is like heaven. But where do you go? A good suggestion will be in the Norwegian South Coast region. By nature, the weather along this area is sometimes unpredictable. However, you can have many sheltered places along your charter. If you’re sailing alone, you can anchor your boat on any of the mountains near the fjords. Nevertheless, for safety purposes, ensure that you have the right safety equipment with you. Moreover, you must also be prepared for the strong gusts of winds.

Do you love to commune with nature on a vacation? You can always bring your backpack on the North West Coast region. There are many hiking and biking trails that you can find near the fjords. A good example is the one you can discover in Midsund District. The narrowness of Rorsethornet’s edges can give you the kind of thrill in your holiday. You can also pass by the fjords until you reach the mountain peaks Midoya Island. On the way, don’t forget to pick the spring flowers that decorate the entire mountains. Nevertheless, make sure that you bring along a trail map with you. It’s better to have something to look at when you can’t find your way home.

Certainly, there is more to sailing in Norway. You can also enjoy their music, beautiful mountain peaks, and the challenges provided by the fjords and the seas that envelop the entire region. If you acre to go to Norway, you must know that the Norwegians love sports, being champions at ski fond, ski jumping and other winter sports. You also must know that they are most likely to employ bicycles than cars, and you will see loads of people on bikes, so you can rent one too during your stay.