Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin

Goda Vänner performed Swedish Folk Tunes and presented the history of Swedish Folk Music at the Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin Fika meeting on March 16, 2024 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. Goda Vänner Spelmanslag members are Mary Stetson, Carol Gustafson, Patty Horn, and Eva Christiansen

Carol discussed the history of Swedish Folk Music. It began in the early 19^th century. The Gothic Society was formed 1811and the first Swedish Folk Tune was published in 1813 in the Gothic Society Journal. In the early 1890’s the first “public” performance by folk musicians called “Spelmen” took place at Skansen in Stockholm. Skansen is the first Open Air Museum and Zoo founded in 1891. In the 1940’s, the first Spelmanslags, (musicians, fiddlers) were established, associated with the music of Dalarna, Sweden. The primary instrument was the fiddle, another common instrument was the nyckelharpa. In the 1960’s, other instruments were added.

Mary introduced the different types of Swedish Folk Tunes and Spelmanlaget Goda Vänner then played the tunes. Most common tune is the Polska, the other popular tunes include: Gånglåt, (Walking tune), Vals (Waltz), Schottis, and Mazurka. For further information see presentation link below.

Svenska Låtar

Video from three of the songs performed are included below.

Christina in Christina’s waltz refers to Christina Nilsson the famous Swedish opera singer, who sang at the opening night of the New York Met in 1883, and was very popular in USA, Russia, UK, France, and Sweden. It is a story about a poor girl from a small village in Sweden who became famous worldwide. Christina Nilsson is the Great, Great Aunt of Carol, who presented her relation to Christina in early 2020 Fika meeting. You can read her story in the website section “Stories of my Swedish Heritage” (Press the link then scroll down to find the story).

The program was ended by showing a YouTube peformance of Gånglåt från Äppelbo, a 1997 performance from the Polar Music Price ceremony where the Swedish Royal Family participated in company with Bruce Springsteen, a favorite performer of the Swedish king.

Gånglåt från Äppelbo

Everybody at the meeting greatly enjoyed the program, music and performance by Goda Vänner. After the program traditional Fika with food and baked goods brought by meeting participants was enjoyed by all. This meeting also included a table with items for sale, items that previously had been donated to the society.

Thanks Goda Vänner for great entertainment, thanks to everyone donating the food, thanks to everyone supporting the meeting by set-up of the facility, preparation of the Fika, welcoming meeting participants, handling the sale table, and take-down and clean-up after the meeting, and thanks Martin Luther Church for having us in your church.