Fiddling for Norway is an engrossing portrait of a fiddle-based folk
revival in Norway, one that in many ways parallels contemporary folk
institutions and festivals throughout the world, including American
fiddling. It is a detailed case study in the politics of culture, the
causes and purposes of folk revivals, and the cultivation of music to
define identity.
The book begins with an investigation of the people and events important
to Norwegian folk fiddling, tracing the history of Norwegian folk music
and the growth and diversification of the folk music revival. The
narrative takes us to fiddle clubs, concerts and competitions on the
local, regional, and national levels, and shows how conflicting
emphases--local vs. national identity, tradition vs. aesthetic
qualities--continue to transform Norwegian folk music. Goertzen utilizes
a large anthology of meticulously transcribed tunes to illustrate
personal and regional repertoires, aspects of performance practice,
melodic gesture and form, and tune relationships. Ethnomusicologists and
readers who fiddle will enjoy both the music and the stories it tells.