Kari's Huldre Project -
the musical adventure!

The deep and unwritten history of women is hidden in our songs.
In Scandinavia, the Huldre tunes and stories are a
pathway to the heart of the mystery!

Look for my up-coming CD "Songs of the Völva" to be released in 2008. This CD represents my research and performance since 2003.

In performance:
Singing in Icelandic, Norwegian, Ancient Danish, Runic, Latvian, Votic and English, my original and traditional songs are woven together with stories, rhythm and dancing to create a most unique experience.

Mp3s of earlier recordings with scholarly notes

Huldre tunes - (also called Trollstilt) tunes about or learned from Huldre characterized by a combination of pitches C#, A, E, and A, sometimes DAD or DADGAD, corresponding to the tuning of a langeleik, a dulcimer style instrument played primarily by women. This tuning is complimentary to the hardanger fiddle (primarily a man's instrument) and many huldre tunes were preserved through the hardanger fiddle.

Huldre Eventyr - Stories and lyrics about the Huldre. The largest body of Eventyr was compiled in 1852 by Asbjørnsen and Moe. Stories link Huldre to the first Indo-European migration through Lilith. Women's sexuality, nature spirituality and psychic or supernatural abilities, taboo subjects in the new Christian ethic, are themes that run through Huldre Eventyr.

Huldre Lokk - lokking and kulning cow calling, a series of high-pitched calls to bring cattle from the field and wood back to the barn, the job of women in Nordic society. It is also a form of communication between herding women across field and fjord. Also used was the lur, (a wind instrument relating to the Bronze Age lur 1400 B.C.E.) made today with wood and birch bark, trees connected with the Goddess and women's shamanic practice.

Staving - The use of a stav or working stick such as distaff, herding crook, stirring stick, or even broom handle to keep rhythm for groups of workers especially in threshing, spinning and weaving. Stav a martial art using the stav and rune alphabet, preserved by the Hafkjold family.

Runes and Runos - The system of symbols and an alphabet of deep Indo-European origin is the Runes. The runes are connected with and found in nature energy and are used in magic and healing. Runos is the singer and songs of Finno-Ugric tradition which also deal with nature energies, magic, and healing. Their root is from Sanscrit Ru and the god Rudra the howler, the whisperer, the keeper and teller of secrets, advice giver, and nature entity.

Other Huldre Resources (with off-site links):

my huldre myspace page

My songs have been compared with selections from the "Wizard Women of the North" CD.

Karen Solgard encouraged me in this course of study. She interprets the Haugelaaten tune a Huldre eventyr called "Mountain Fantasy" on the Hardanger Fiddle with Vocals. I continue to learn so much from Karen.

Hear the inspiring Arna Rennan sing in the old Norse Way. Her band, Nordic Angst, is fantastic.

Ross Sutter inspired me in the late '80s with his combination of music and education. Hear him sing Rida Ranka, often incorporated into my performances.

My music and performance style has been compared in content and intensity to Ruth Makenzie.

Ingebretsen's on Lake (a great Nordic Roots resource)

Northside Music - a fantastic local/International resource! Sponsor of the Nordic Roots Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center.

TVFolk.net - A video collection of folk music artists from all over Scandinavia and the Baltic in their homes and on stages!