UNESCO-listed folk music

The folk music of Norway

Norwegian folk music is more than entertainment, it's living cultural heritage. While the earliest known written melody dates to 1695, the music itself has been passed down orally for centuries, tracing back to Old Norse times, according to Store norske leksikon.

The folk music includes a wide spectrum of vocal and instrumental styles, and every corner of Norway has its own distinct rhythms or performance style – from the mystical, voice-driven melodies of the Sami joik in Finnmark to the foot-stomping fiddling of Setesdal.​

UNESCO-listed folk music

Beyond its majestic mountains, colourful bunads and rich crafts, Setesdal is known for its folk music heritage. It's so unique, it was inscribed in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019.

A valley in tune

"It’s more than just music – it’s identity, and it creates a sense of roots and community," says Harald Stulien Robstad.

As a member of a family noted for its musical talents, Harald grew up surrounded by the sound of folk music at his home at Syrtveit farm in the lower part of Setesdal. But it wasn’t until his teenage years that he truly began to appreciate its beauty, when he had the chance to experience it up close through encounters with local performers.

"I first started by forging jaw harps," he recalls. "Then, I began playing them. I was inspired by my younger brother who also plays."

Listen to Harald Stulien Robstad playing Huldreslåtten on the jaw harp.

Photo: Adrian Leversby / Visitnorway.com

Passing on traditional tunes

In Setesdal, folk music isn't just a tradition – it's homework! For over 30 years, children in Setesdal have been learning to play the Hardanger fiddle at the local music school.

Harald’s younger brother, Endre Stulien Robstad, started his journey with the traditional instrument at the age of 8. After meeting two prominent figures in Norwegian folk music, Daniel Sanden-Warg and Kirsten Bråten Berg, he was sold and started attending music school.

"It’s as if there’s something deep within the tune that comes to life and greets me when the music is playing," says Endre.

Listen to Endre Stulien Robstad playing the Hardanger fiddle.

Photo: Adrian Leversby / Visitnorway.com

The brothers continue to learn songs from both old masters and younger musicians and share the same hope: that the folk music tradition will lives on in its traditional form, but also develop with new expressions.

"Folk music isn't dusty. It's a living pulse," says Harald.

"People my age think it's original and exciting. It's something that stands out from popular music," adds Endre.

The first fiddler

The Hardanger fiddle was developed in Hardanger in the 1600s and eventually became one of the most important instruments in Norwegian folk music, according to Store norske leksikon. It reached Setesdal in about the 1860s.

"It's said that Nere Nese from Bygland was the first to introduce the Hardingfele in the valley in 1860. It is also written that there was a spelemann (fiddler) as far back as the early 1600s. This is the oldest information we have from written sources," says Marton Laksesvela, a highly skilled fiddler with 40 years' experience who lives in Setesdal. Alongside his music, he runs a farm and specialises in repairing and building Hardanget fiddles.

For a long time, the regular violin and the Hardanger fiddle coexisted. Today, the Hardanger fiddle and jaw harp are the most common instruments, with the jaw harp becoming incredibly popular in the last 20 years.

Photo: Adrian Leversby / Visitnorway.com

Music and dance in harmony

In the performance of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, the two are inseparable.

The traditional Norwegian folk dance, the gangar, is dominant in the Telemark and Setesdal traditions.

"It has a very strong, clear rhythm and a distinct melody. It's a bit like the traditional buildings here, they’re not overly carved or decorated, but they have beautiful shapes, and the forms are incredibly striking," says Marton.

Stories in song

Many of the vocal styles in Norwegian folk music sit between calling and singing. Some of the oldest forms are linked to mountain farming, especially lokking, used to communicate over long distances and to call the animals!

The art of stev

Picture a lively exchange of playful, teasing song duels – that's the art of stev or stevjing, an old Norwegian singing form.

The four-line verses stand on their own, often telling stories about love, nature or sharing knowledge. In stevleik, singers challenge each other back and forth with mocking or provocative lyrics, aimed at a person, event, or even a neighbouring village.

The singing tradition used to be widespread in much of Norway, but has remained particularly strong in Setesdal and Telemark, continuing to evolve with new lyrics being created for traditional stev melodies.

See a young girl from Setesdal deliver a soulful performance of a traditional Norwegian stev.

Photo: Visitnorway.com

Experience it yourself

If you visit Setesdal, you may have the opportunity to enjoy concerts and performances by local musicians and dancers firsthand.

As we step into the pub, the low lighting, wooden beams, and intimate corners set the stage for a laid-back atmosphere. We're at the Sølvgården Hotel in Setesdal, which hosts folk music nights featuring local performers at regular intervals throughout the year.

The crowd is a mix of young and old, locals and visitors. The music starts. It’s not loud, but it’s enchanting. People aren’t just passive listeners, they’re involved, tapping their feet, and soon many are even dancing in a circle to the rhythm of the gangar dance.

Folk music in Norway is very much alive, especially in valleys with a rural farming culture in Eastern and Central Norway. Hallingdal, in the region of Viken and Valdres in Innlandet County, is home to Hallingdans, a traditional dance known for its high energy and acrobatic acts, such as when dancers attempt to kick a hat off the top of a pole. Valdres is also known for gammaldans, an old-style couple's dance that has been preserved through generations.

Folk-infused nightclub in Oslo

You can even experience folk music in Norway's bustling capital, Oslo.

Bands like Valkyrien Allstars have gained a strong following both in Norway and abroad, and are celebrated for their energetic performances and innovative approach to folk music.

In Oslo, you can visit Riksscenen, the country's national venue for folk music, and attend Tuvas Blodklubb. It's Norway's (and possibly the Nordic countries) only folk music nightclub, created by Tuva Syvertsen, the front woman in Valkyrien Allstars. The monthly event brings passionate folk music lovers together in an energetic nightclub atmosphere.