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Old music reaching new audiences
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
July 12, 2004

Skalmusik's 5 members started playing old time Scandinavian music together 14 years ago. They recently played at the St Paul Farmers Market (MPR photo/Dan Olson)

Old time Scandinavian music is making a comeback with new audiences. Five musicians from the Brainerd area called Skalmusik preserve and play Swedish and Norwegian folk tunes. The group's members are carrying on long family traditions of playing music that reflects their heritage.

St. Paul, Minn. — Paul Wilson is pushing 53, and he says his baby boom status gives him a growing appreciation for the old timey fiddle playing of his Norwegian and Swedish forebearers.

"Hey! Some of those things that grandpa and grandma did, they're kind of cool," Wilson says.

This is a confession from a fallen away rock'n'roller who in his long hair college days had a band with his brothers.

	Skalmusik

All of Skalmusik's players got hooked on performing as kids.

Bob Anderson, retired from his day job with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, was in 4th grade in Brainerd when he and his 5 brothers played in the family orchestra.

"I actually started out playing cello in 4th grade and Dad said we needed a bass in the orchestra, so I switched from cello to bass."

Bob is still playing the same bass, now much repaired and and refinished.

Skalmusik's Harold Herboldt also cites family, specifically his mother, for musical inspiration. He and a brother took weekly lessons at the Trafficante accordian school in Minneapolis. The family lived in a St. Paul suburb but mother made sure they got their lesson in.

"She'd work in Minneapolis and drive all the way home in that l930 Chevrolet and drive us all the way back downtown to make that lesson," Herboldt says.

	Skalmusik harmonium

Skalmusik's speciality is preserving old tunes like the ones they placed recently at the farmers market in St. Paul. However some are of the old sounding music is quite new.

Fiddler Arne Anderson composed the Karen Butler Shottis, continuing the Scandinavian tradition of writing tunes as a gift for special events like birthday's.

The musicians also have some old ideas about instruments.

Keyboardist Mary Abendroth's harmonium is powered by her feet. She pumps peddles to supply the wheezy old instrument with air. Mary says she bought the travel-worn, coffee-table sized organ from a retired Army chaplain. He said he carted it around during the war, but Mary's not sure which one.

She admits to being envious of more portable keyboards run on electricity but hasn't found one to match the harmonium's bouncey, accordian-like sound.

"Maybe we can get something that will simulate this sound, but we really want this sound, and of course when we're going by land we prefer this look too, it looks right," she says.

	Old time music sparks dancing

Skalmusik plays Tuesday evening, July 13th at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. The audience can expect a workout. Tapestry Folk Dance instructors will teach people how to waltz and polka. The History Center's Wendy Freshman who's helped arrange the series of 9 free Tuesday night concerts says she's learned the minute people are given permission to dance they're on their feet.

"I have a wonderful memory of a woman who was 80 years old and she and I did a polka together and she even brought her dance shoes," Freshman says.

Old time Scandinavian music lovers who want a longer, deeper trip back into the past can mark their calenders. The Skalmusik performers will be in Decorah, Iowa July 23 and 24 as part of that city's Nordic Fest.

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