Description
Some 546 notes pour through about a minute in this G-minor dance, carried on a triple-time lilt that leans on the first beat. It is No. 2 of the third part of Traditioner af Swenska Folk-Dansar, an intermediate piece near the start of a part that sets tunes from across Sweden for the piano; who composed the individual tunes is not known.
It is in G minor and triple meter. The polska is the best-known Swedish folk dance in triple time, and this piece moves with the same kind of dance rhythm that leans on the first beat. Its range runs from G2 in the bass to B-flat 5 at the top, so it fits on a 61-key keyboard. At close to nine notes per second, the music flows without a break despite its brevity.
The challenge is to keep all those notes riding on the lilt of three beats. Where the fingers stumble, lower the playback speed and use the A-B loop to repeat a few bars at a time until the fingering settles. The hand colours separate the right-hand melody from the left-hand accompaniment, so you can check that the left hand is carrying the weight of the beat, which is what gives the dance its step. Once it is secure, return to normal speed and listen for the right hand bouncing lightly over the left-hand beat.
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About the Composer
Traditional
'Traditional' refers not to a single composer but to folk melodies and dances passed down through oral tradition across various regions. This site includes 57 such pieces, including Nordic folk dances, reflecting the distinct character of music rooted in place and community rather than individual composition.
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