Nordic on Tap - the podcast

Lori Ann Reinhall and the Norwegian American

In the early 1900s, there were hundreds of Scandinavian immigrant newspapers. Meet Lori Ann Reinhall, the Editor of the last remaining Norwegian newspaper in the USA, the Norwegian American. You'll hear how this amazing and talented woman keeps this excellent paper alive in a time of quarantine, unemployment, decreased popularity of print media, the "noise" of the internet, and biased opinions and interpretations masquerading as "news". She affirms the importance of bringing people together as a community rather than seeking to divide them. We'll also hear cuts from Lori Ann's CD, Duo Scandinavica, featuring songs that were favorites of immigrants in the early 1900s.

Darryl Jackson and the Amazing One-Man Band

By day he works in the computer learning industry, but by night he puts on his sunglasses, pulls out his instruments, and creates amazing CD-quality music in his studio. He is lead and bass guitarists, lead vocalist and harmonizer, drummer, and keyboardist.  Who would suspect this mild-mannered man to have arisen out of a musical family, to have started his own recording studio, "played Vegas" with a number of bands....to later in life devote all his spare time to making music in his own studio, now available only online?  Join me as we visit the talented Darryl Jackson in his recording studio south of Seattle to see what kind of musical chops it takes to create such a wide range of genres: classical, new age, rock, and electronica. A video version of our interview will be available soon on https://www.facebook.com/NordicOnTap/ too.  

Folktales of Norway and Sweden

Join us for an exploration of Nordic folktales, why we value them, and how they define the cultures from which they come. We hear two of  the most beloved tales of Norway and Sweden, and finish with a haunting duet of a traditional folksong from the Nordahl Grieg Spelmanslag, and one arranged by yours truly.  This podcast is for all story lovers, from 4 to 104. So grab your sippy cup, latte, or hip flask and prepare to escape into the realm of adventure.
Links
Nordic folktales at fairytalz.com
The Complete and Original Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe (this is the publisher’s site )
The Project Gutenberg eBook of the Swedish Fairy Tale Book (the complete free digital text)
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Asbjørnson & Moe’s East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North (the complete free digital text)
A Time for Trolls, Joan Roll Hansen’s translation and telling of some Asbjørsen and Moe tales with great illustrations my first exposure to these beloved folktales and the most dog-eared book I own).
 

COVID-19 and Seattle’s Nordic Businesses & Organizations: Who Will Be Left Standing?

With the full or partial closure of many businesses, institutions, and organizations in Seattle in late March 2020 due to COVID-19, we wonder how are our cherished Nordic haunts, restaurants, museums, and fraternal organizations making it through in Seattle. We talk with Erik Pihl of the National Nordic Museum, Bjørn Ruud of Scandinavian Specialties, Rachel Antalek of Byen Bakeri, and report on the Scandinavian Hour, Nordic Roots and Branches, the Swedish Club, The Dane Restaurant, Nordiska (Poulsbo), the 17th of May (Syttende Mai) Parade, and the Norwegian-American News, among others. If we value these outfits, how can we support them so they survive?
Links
The National Nordic Museum the premiere Nordic institution and gathering place in the Seattle Area has visiting and permanent collections, lectures, concerts, and virtual programming too.
The Swedish Club of Seattle, offering a full calendar of programming, from weaving, to language classes, weekly dinners, and superb Swedish pancakes.
Rachel Antelek and Larry Walsh's Byen Bakeri in the lower Queen Anne area of Seattle, where I buy my lingonberry tarts, skolebrød, prinsessekake, krumkake, and cardamom lattes. I'm told they also sell nutritious food (!). Here's the Seattle Times article that appeared when they bought the bakery in 2019.
Nordic Roots and Branches radio show streaming live at 7pm Pacific on Tuesdays out of Evertt, WA. With host Karen Pauli. Interviews and Nordic music. Facebook site here.
The Dane Restaurant in Seattle sadly did not survive the pandemic. :( This lovely spot is where I interviewed Morton Alfred Høirup when he came to town.
Scandinavian Specialties managed by Bjørn Ruud, Seattle's shop for Nordic frozen food, sweaters, cookware, arts, and fresh cakes and pølse. They'd be happy to ship something to you or have it delivered locally; order online. The shop had some difficult times in the past two years.
Nordiska gift shop, in Poulsbo, Washington (a cute town with a real Scandinavian flavor). Shop online or visit in person.
The Norwegian American News is the oldest Norwegian American newspaper with 24-28 color pages of articles on Norwegian politics, science, sport, arts and entertainment, cooking, pages on learning Norwegian, a page just for kids, and occasionally articles by yours truly. Both print or digital subscriptions include a weekly newsletter. See the Nordic on Tap podcast about the editor-in-chief, Lori Ann Reinhall, as well as their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter sites.
Syttende Mai Festival for Seattle's 17th of May events claims to have the biggest celebration outside of Oslo. Looking forward to when we can have concerts, luncheons, and the big parade again!
The Scandinavian Hour on KKNW Bellevue (a music variety show where I got my own start on radio), where you can listen to live shows online at 6am & 9am Pacific on Saturdays, 6am Pacific on Sundays. Hosts Seth Tufteland and Doug Warne also conduct some interviews and announce community events. Not many shows like this in the world - well worth checking out.
Other Nordic businesses I'd recommend the Greater Seattle Area are Larsen's Bakery and Nielson's Pastries.

Clothes Stories: A Visit with Fashion Designer Madison Leiren

Beyond keeping us warm and preventing public embarrassment, why do we wear clothes?  What does our dress say about us, who and what we are, and where we come from? Join Nordic on Tap for this dive into the world of fashion design with Seattle-based designer, Madison Leiren of Leiren Designs (https://leirendesigns.com/).  We sit down with Madison to discuss her path into fashion design and the influence of her Norwegian heritage and Norwegian culture in what she creates.  Madison talks about how she custom makes unique clothes such as wedding gowns as well as clothing for men. Finally, we talk about Madison’s experience as a designer in the greater Nordic community, especially in Seattle, and mention a few of our favorite haunts.  We conclude the show by listening to excerpts of songs and hymns derived from classic music, highlighting the inspirational hymn derived from Finlandia, the symphony written by Finnish composer Jean Sebelius.
Links
Leiren Designs, Madison's website and boutique, with examples of her unusual, lacy, Scandinavian-influenced bridal gowns. You can book an appointment right on her website for a consultation at her Seattle shop.
"Clothing with an adventurous spirit", an article about Madison's fashions in the Norwegian American News.
An article (2018)on Madison's work in the Seattle Sister City Association newsletter.
Leiren Designs is also on Instagram.
Check out this beautiful film (2011) of "Wild Scandinavia - Finland", showing the countries pastoral landscapes and dramatic shots of Finland's wildlife (from reindeer to flying squirrels, lynx, bears, and loons) and the beauty of the aurora borealis, all set to Jean Sebelius' Finlandia (full version) by Wildes Skandinavien/Gulo Film Productions.
This video of the Finlandia-hymni, the part of Jean Sebelius' Finlandia with words by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi, is sung in Finnish by the Ylioppilaskunnan- YL Male Voice Choir; shots of modern, mostly urban Finland, accompany the music.

Preschools and Bunads on Tap: Schooling in Norway & Getting a Folk costume

Join us as we travel to Oslo, Norway to talk to a barnehage (literally: kindergarden) teacher named Torhild to learn how Norwegian kids have it differently and the same as us in the USA.  We also examine Norwegian folk costumes, or bunads...and what it takes to get one. We meet Hanne at Heimen Husfliden in Oslo as she tells us about her job selling bunads.
We finish the show with some foot-stomping fiddle and guitar tunes by Ruthie Dornfeld and Alfred Morten Høirup. Check out Darryl Jackson's music too at darryljacksonmusic.com.
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Join us as we travel to Oslo, Norway to talk to a barnehage (literally: kindergarden) teacher named Torhild to learn how Norwegian kids have it differently and the same as us in the USA.  We also examine Norwegian folk costumes, or bunads...and what it takes to get one. We meet Hanne at Heimen Husfliden in Oslo as she tells us about her job selling bunads.
We finish the show with some foot-stomping fiddle and guitar tunes by Ruthie Dornfeld and Alfred Morten Høirup. Check out Darryl Jackson's music too at darryljacksonmusic.com.
If you enjoy our show you'll soon be able to visit us on Facebook and at our website, NordicOnTap.com! Vi sees!
Links
Children have a right to attend a barnehage (kindergarden) in Norway from 1-5 years old. But as Torhild mentioned in the podcast, there's not enough capacity to assure that right can be exercised. Here's a look at that situation in kindergardens in Tromsø, Norway.
Heimen Husfliden of Oslo, where Hanna Westlie works, is unusual in that it sells many bunads from around Norway. Generally, it is the prerogative of Husfliden shops within the specific counties (fylke) of Norway to sell their local folk costumes. What is considered a county's specific bunad has undergone some adjustment with the redistricting in 2020. Below are photos of young women in bunads from different localities, some of which changed in the redistricting map.
 
 
 

Morten Alfred Høirup on Tap: Our Interview

Join us for an interview of Danish composer, musician, and journalist, Morten Alfred Høirup. We find out what the folk music scene is like in Denmark and how state-sponsored radio funding is somewhat dependent on the political views of the current government. Morten also describes his work as a composer for film, especially on esoteric topics like animals (he's composed for Animal Planet, for example). What kind of music does he write to accompany a squirming snake or a jumping frog? Listen and find out!
We finish with a live recording of the guitar-duo, Høirup and Dornfeld, playing a delightful medley of Ingela's Vals (by Morten Alfred) and Meget Gammel Vals fra Vendsyssel (traditional).
Links
Morten Alfred Høirup's website proves that he's a very busy and multitalented fellow!
Selections from Morten's albums can be heard on his Bandcamp site.
He currently has played together with Mia Guldhammer, Ruthie Dornfeld (as in this podcast), in the trio Jensen, Bugge, and Høirup, with his father Fin Alfred Larson, and the American Cafe Orchestra.
Videos of Morten's many collaborations are here.
Morton is a regular contributor to Radio Folk Denmark, such as in this recording on the 2020 Danish folk music scene (in English).
Morton hosts Radio Denmark's Folk Live 30-minute podcast series (in English) showcases Danish and Nordic roots, folk, and traditional music bands performing at festivals and venues, like for example the famous Danish Tønder Festival. There's 20 great podcasts here and counting.
Morten produces his own podcast called Katten i Saekken about the Danish folk scene too (in Danish). As I understand it, "katten i sækken" (or cat in the bag) is an expression similar to "a pig in a poke", or something that is of dubious quality, but also possibly something quite good. A clever way to express the constantly emerging miljø of music.
Morten's 2022 book of sheet music called Ingela’s Waltz - 25 New Danish Folk Melodies contains, as the title says, 25 self-composed melodies. You can order this from Edition Svitzer and have it shipped to you for about USD $28/150DKK/€20.00 (as of July 2022), as I did. The title song, which I adore, is the same one played in this podcast episode. You can also audition the melody on the Edition Svitzer site ... just click on the play button (forward arrow) in the bar as seen in the picture below. The sheet music comes with the melody in standard notation and guitar/accordion/concertina/piano chords.

Click on the right-arrow (play) button to hear Ingela's Waltz on the Edition Svitzer site.