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Folk music from Norway is usually in minor or modal, making a sober and haunting sound, though major key dance music forms also exist. In the last half of the 20th century, Norway, like many other countries in the world, underwent a roots revival that saw indigenous music being revived. Prior to the 1700s, there is scant record of what kind of music was played in Norway. In 1380, Norway had come under Danish rule, and thus had no royal house or nobility of its own; as a result, for 450 years, Norway did not participate in the musical development which occurred in royal circles throughout the rest of Europe. Religious and folk music probably remained popular throughout this era, though again scant records exist to document their nature.

1 Classical music

The first classical composers from Norway are documented from the beginning of the 18th century, when they composed dance and chamber music, including cantatas. In 1814, Sweden entered into a union with Norway, and the Swedish royal family spent time in Norway's capital, Christiania (Oslo). At their royal court, music flourished.

The violinist Ole Bull ( 1810 - 1880Events January 1 Construction of the Panama Canal begins February 2 The first electric streetlight is installed in Wabash, Indiana February 13 Thomas Edison becomes the second person to observe the Edison Effect. February 17 Bomb explodes in Winter Palace) was the first major Norwegian musician. He became world-famous starting in about 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l, and was known as the Nordic Paganini. Foreign musicians began settling in Norway in large numbers in the 1840sEvents and Trends First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi New Zealand. The treaty between the British Crown and Maori made New Zealand a British colony and is considered the founding point of modern N, bringing with them musical knowledge from the rest of Europe. Following the French RevolutionThe period of the French Revolution in the history of France covers the years between 1789 and 1799, in which democrats and republicans overthrew the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church perforce underwent radical restructuring. While France wo of 18481848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). Events Sri Lanka The Revolution of 1848 (qv. a series of widespread but failed struggles for more liberal governments, from Brazil to Hungary. January 24 California gold rush: Jame, Norway saw the development of a strong national consciouscness, as well as economic growth which occurred the development of music. In comparison to most other countries of this period, female Norwegian musicians were widely accepted, and were even published and given stipends by the state.

With Norwegian nationalismNationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. Nationalists base nations on various notions of political legitimacy. These can derive from the Romantic theory of " cultural identity", burgeoning, the musical scene throughout the country entered the Golden Age of Norwegian Music, led by Halfdan Kjerulf and organist and collector Ludvig Mathias Lindeman . The Golden Age's most prominent composers were Johan SvendsenJohan Svendsen ( September 30, 1840 June 14, 1911) was a Norwegian composer and conductor. Born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway, he lived most his life in Copenhagen, Denmark. His most famous work is his romance for violin and orchestra. He died in Cope and Edvard Grieg. These composers, inspired by Lindeman's collections and Ole Bull's Hardanger fiddling, incorporated Norwegian folk elements into their compositions.

At the end of the 19th century, folk song collecting continued unabated, and composers like Christian Sinding and Johan Halvorsen were well-known. Following the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905, Norwegian nationalism continued to grow in popularity and innovation, led especially by David Monrad Johansen , Geirr Tveitt, Bjarne Brustad , Ludvig Irgens Jensen , Harald Sæverud, Klaus Egge and Eivind Groven. These composers focused on using folk music in their compositions, a trend which continued well into World War 2, through a process of internationalization began in the 1930s. In between the wars, only a few composers, like Pauline Hall and Fartein Valen , were significant influenced by foreign styles.

After World War 2, Norwegian music began moving in a new direction, away from the Nordic and Germanic ideals of the past, and towards a more international, especially American, British and French, style. New composers of this period included Johan Kvandal , Knut Nystedt , Edvard Hagerup Bull and Egil Hovland . Of especial importance was French neo-classicism, Paul Hindemith and Béla Bartók. During this period, serial music appeared in Norway, led by Finn Mortensen . Later, avant garde composers like Arne Nordheim took advantage of technological developments, using a variety of electronic effects and bizarre instrumentation.

A lot of Norwegian music fans did not take to the new direction these avant-garde composers were moving in. Some, like Kåre Kolberg , reacted by composing simple music, while others, such as Alfred Janson and Ragnar Søderlind , revived romanticism. Some music from this era attempted to address social and political concerns, such as Janson's dedication of a violin concerto to Chilean president Salvador Allende.

By the end of the 1970s, Norwegian music had become very diverse, incorporating elements from throughout the country's documented musical history, as well as modern jazz, pop and rock. Composers of the last part of the 20th century include Olav Anton Thommessen , Magne Hegdal , Åse Hedstrøm , Asbjørn Schaatun , Tor Halmrast , Glenn Erik Haugland , Henrik Asheim , Cecille Ore and Ketil Hvoslef . Popular and classical attention to folk music has also continued through the work of composers like Lasse Thoresen .