Monday, August 05, 2019

Vacation (Part I): We're Off to the Land of Ice and Snow!

So a certain Shady Dame and I are flying to Scandinavia tonight, for some well deserved R&R. Norway and Sweden, baby!

But I got to wondering. Obviously, Sweden has ABBA and Yngvie Malmsteen. But are there any Norwegian rock bands I should know about?

And then I remembered -- a-ha.



Yeah, right. Way to go, Norway.

I should add that, apparently, Norway also has a flourishing death-metal scene, but of course who gives a shit. That said, a-hah was their biggest international rock export, and to be fair -- "Take On Me" is not a totally terrible song.

In any case, first stop: Bergen.


Which happens to be the hometown and final resting place of one of my favorite classical composers, Edvard Grieg. Whose music, back in my younger days, I actually essayed.

Seriously, I used to be able to knock 'em dead with my rendition of this.



For what it's worth, the fabulous Glenn Gould played it more or less the same way I did, which is to say, much slower than Grieg indicated. Which is also to say that both of us pissed off classical pedant/purists (I"m not gonna name names). In my case, of course, it was mostly from lack of technique.

Dispatches from the fjords continue on the morrow.

3 comments:

edward said...

Not to harsh your vacation or anything, but no mention of the passing of DA Pennebaker?

Blue Ash Fan said...

I've actually done the same itinerary and absolutely loved Bergen. My wife and I went to a bar for a drink and Jimmie Vaughan was playing downstairs. Not really my thing, but still.

Anyway, enjoy. Two beautiful countries.

Stu said...

Steve, I am surprised this song, by a Norwegian, never crossed your ears:

https://youtu.be/CmQyasIZYZ0