ABSTRACT

The Nature of Nordic Music explores two distinctive yet complementary understandings of the term ‘nature’: the inherent features, characters and qualities of contemporary Nordic music, and how the elemental forces of nature, the phenomena of the physical world (landscape, climate, environment), inspire and condition creativity here.

Within a broader debate about the meaning of ‘Nordicness’, 12 case studies challenge our assumptions about a ‘Nordic tone’ to reveal a creative energy that is diverse and cosmopolitan in outlook. Each of the three parts of the book – ‘Identities’, ‘Images’ and ‘Environments’ – accommodates an eclectic array of musical genres (classical, popular, jazz, folk, electronic).

This book will appeal to anyone interested in Nordic music and culture, especially students and researchers.

part I|86 pages

Identities

chapter 1|17 pages

‘Nordicness’ in Scandinavian music

A complex question

chapter 4|16 pages

Starting from scratch

Nation-building and the creation of an Icelandic choral tradition

part II|70 pages

Images

part III|78 pages

Environments

chapter 10|20 pages

Nordic drone

Pedal points and static textures as musical imagery of the northerly environment

chapter 11|26 pages

Telling the time

Communication and temporality in Nordic new music

chapter 12|16 pages

Sigur Rós

Talking timbre