Home > Dictionary > Vocal traditions > Article

Bygdeviser, skillingsviser (Country songs and "penny" songs)

Bygdeviser and skillingsviser are newer songs from the 1800's and 1900's, usually composed by well-known authors and set to existing melodies.

Even today many of these songs are still widely popular. Skillingsviser, "penny" songs, were especially popular. They were quickly written to reflect current events such as the Titanic disaster, set to contemporary popular melodies, and printed in mass quantities and sold cheaply, hence the name.


| E-mail this | Print this |