Sami music
Encyclopedia
In traditional Sami music songs (e.g. Kvad and Leudd songs ) and joiks
are important musical expressions. The Sami also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Lapp, some traditional Scandinavian, and some modern introductions.
Improvised, highly spiritual songs called joiks
(North Sami: luohti; South Sami: vuolle) are the most characteristic song type. (The same word sometimes refers to lavlu or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.) Joiks do not rhyme, and have no definite structure. They are typically about any subject of importance to the singer, and vary widely in content. Purely folk joiks have declined in popularity over the 20th century, due to the influence of pop radio and religious fundamentalism, especially Laestadianism
. Nevertheless, joik performers of some fame include Angelit
(former Angelin tytöt, Girls of Angeli
), Wimme Saari
and Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
from Finnish Lapland. Many modern singers are signed to DAT, the premier record label
in Sami music.
The most famous Sami singer is Mari Boine
of Norway
, who sings a type of minimalist folk-rock with joik roots. Some non-Sami artists, including RinneRadio
, Xymox and Jan Garbarek
, have used joik and other Sami styles in their music.
The Finnish
folk metal
band Sháman introduced what some call "yoik metal" in the late 1990s, drawing attention to Sámi music in the heavy metal scene. Their music incorporated Sámi elements such as yoik singing, Sami lyrics, and shamanic drum. The vocalist has also yoiked for fellow Finnish folk metal band Finntroll.
In January 2008, the Sami artist Ann Marie Anderson, singing "Ándagassii" qualified to the finals of Melodi Grand Prix 2008, (the Norwegian
national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
), but she did not win.
, a reedpipe made from Angelica archangelica
stalks, and the Sami drum. Late 18th century researchers also noted two bagpipes in Lapland: the sak-pipe and the wal-pipe.
Other Sami instruments of wider Scandinavian usage include the lur
(a long horn trumpet), and the harpu, a zither similar to the Finnish kantele
. Willow flute
s are often made from the bark of the quicken tree or mountain ash.
Modern bands use a wide variety of instruments, especially the fiddle
, concertina
, and accordion
.
Yoik
A joik, , luohti, vuolle, leu'dd, or juoiggus is a traditional Sami form of song.Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing...
are important musical expressions. The Sami also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Lapp, some traditional Scandinavian, and some modern introductions.
Improvised, highly spiritual songs called joiks
Yoik
A joik, , luohti, vuolle, leu'dd, or juoiggus is a traditional Sami form of song.Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing...
(North Sami: luohti; South Sami: vuolle) are the most characteristic song type. (The same word sometimes refers to lavlu or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.) Joiks do not rhyme, and have no definite structure. They are typically about any subject of importance to the singer, and vary widely in content. Purely folk joiks have declined in popularity over the 20th century, due to the influence of pop radio and religious fundamentalism, especially Laestadianism
Laestadianism
Laestadianism is a conservative Lutheran revival movement started in the middle of the 19th century. It is strongly marked by both pietistic and Moravian influences. It is the biggest revivalist movement in the Nordic countries. It has members mainly in Finland, North America, Norway, Russia and...
. Nevertheless, joik performers of some fame include Angelit
Angelit
Angelit, formerly known as Angelin tytöt , is a Finnish Sámi folk music group formed by sisters Ursula and Tuuni Länsman in 1989. However, the history of the group can be traced back to 1982 when Eino Ukkonen, Ursula and Tuuni Länsman's Finnish teacher, took them along with some classmates to sing...
(former Angelin tytöt, Girls of Angeli
Angeli, Finland
Angeli is a village in Lapland. It is located west of village of Inari in the municipality of Inari near the Muotkatunturi wilderness region in Finland. The Inari River flows by the village, which is located close to the Norwegian border...
), Wimme Saari
Wimme Saari
Wimme Saari is one of the best known Sami yoikers from Finland. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a techno-ambient accompaniment by members of Finnish electronic group RinneRadio...
and Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, known as Áillohaš in the Northern Sami language was a Finnish Sami writer, musician and artist. He was born in Enontekiö in Lapland province, Finland. He lived most of his life in Käsivarsi, close to the border of Sweden, and also in Skibotn in Norway...
from Finnish Lapland. Many modern singers are signed to DAT, the premier record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in Sami music.
The most famous Sami singer is Mari Boine
Mari Boine
Mari Boine, previously known as Mari Boine Persen, is a Norwegian Sami musician known for having added jazz and rock to the yoiks of her native people...
of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, who sings a type of minimalist folk-rock with joik roots. Some non-Sami artists, including RinneRadio
RinneRadio
RinneRadio is group of electro jazz pioneers from Finland. Operating on the boundaries of jazz and electronic music, the output of RinneRadio has been described as "some jazz, plenty of techno and ambient influences, a few poppy melodies, and hints of world music"...
, Xymox and Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter...
, have used joik and other Sami styles in their music.
The Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
band Sháman introduced what some call "yoik metal" in the late 1990s, drawing attention to Sámi music in the heavy metal scene. Their music incorporated Sámi elements such as yoik singing, Sami lyrics, and shamanic drum. The vocalist has also yoiked for fellow Finnish folk metal band Finntroll.
In January 2008, the Sami artist Ann Marie Anderson, singing "Ándagassii" qualified to the finals of Melodi Grand Prix 2008, (the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
), but she did not win.
Musical instruments
Some sources have commented on a supposed lack of musical musical instruments among the Sami, with one 1885 work noting: "They cannot claim to possess a single instrument of their own, not even the most primitive." Despite these beliefs, the Sami employ a variety of musical instruments, several unique to them. Among their more unique instruments are the fadnoFadno
The fadno is a reed instrument of the Sami people of Scandinavia. The instrument features a reed and three to six fingerholes, and appears to have no parallels among the surrounding Scandinavian peoples....
, a reedpipe made from Angelica archangelica
Garden Angelica
Angelica archangelica, commonly known as Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost, Wild Celery, and Norwegian angelica, is a biennial plant from the Apiaceae family Apiaceae family, formerly known as Umbelleferae...
stalks, and the Sami drum. Late 18th century researchers also noted two bagpipes in Lapland: the sak-pipe and the wal-pipe.
Other Sami instruments of wider Scandinavian usage include the lur
Lur
A lur is a long natural blowing horn without finger holes that is played by embouchure. Lurs can be straight or curved in various shapes. The purpose of the curves was to make long instruments easier to carry A lur is a long natural blowing horn without finger holes that is played by embouchure....
(a long horn trumpet), and the harpu, a zither similar to the Finnish kantele
Kantele
A kantele or kannel is a traditional plucked string instrument of the zither family native to Finland, Estonia, and Karelia. It is related to the Russian gusli, the Latvian kokle and the Lithuanian kanklės. Together these instruments make up the family known as Baltic psalteries...
. Willow flute
Willow flute
The willow flute, also known as sallow flute , is a Scandinavian folk flute, or whistle, consisting of a simple tube with a transverse fipple mouthpiece and no finger holes...
s are often made from the bark of the quicken tree or mountain ash.
Modern bands use a wide variety of instruments, especially the fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
, and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
.
External links
- Official Angelit Webpage
- Joiks and music, from a multinational student project on minority languages in Europe
- More sample joiks from Hollow Ear magazine
- Sami Culture Library - Yoik and Music collection of links related to Sami music
- Sami traditional music: Ande Somby
- Sami contemporary music: Vajas
- Sami contemporary music: Transjoik
- Sami contemporary music: Ulla Pirttijärvi
- Sami contemporary music: Frode Fjellheim