Nordic Fest 1986. Decorah, Iowa

Nordic Fest has been a great yearly tradition in Decorah, Iowa since 1967.  The fest still goes strong today with dances in the streets and traditional music by the Foot-Notes and others.

Leonard Finseth liked to record the music portion of the fest when he was down there.  This tape has a series of performers playing short sets.  I cannot figure out all of the artists names and did not call Vesterheim to try to match the program with the music.

Of note is a performance by Viola Lee who plays wonderful versions of her families fiddle tune on accordion.  There is also good sets by Bertel Malm of South Dakota and Leonard Finseth of Drammen Township, Wisconsin.

Don Gilbertson's House Party 6/14/80

Todays tape is a special one to me.  I used a picture from this gathering to create the woodcut print that became the cover of Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Tunebook Volume 1.  I was talking to Larry Finseth, who played guitar at this party and he remembers it vividly 45 years later.  A lot of waltzes, some schottisches, a few foxtrots and some polkas.

I have isolated Gail's Waltz out of this session.  A Finseth original believed to be named after his friend Gail Andresen.

Leonard Finseth and Truman Sorenson 5-14-1977

This session in it's long form is also available professionally archived by the Mills Music Library at the University of Wisconsin from a different source.

 

Clawhammer Mike playing the G schottische from this session that he transposed down to the key of D for easier group play.