The Christian Democrats

I have just finished reading the Norwegian Newspapers on-line and took a survey on my political views as they pertain to Norway. If I were living in Norway and was involved in the countries politics, the formulation from the survey states that I would most likely be a member of the Christian Democratic Party. The results page of the survey describe the Christian Democrats in brief: "Another party in the center, promoting Christian values. The party is anti-abortion, anti-poverty and pro-family." The breakdown is as follows:
The Christian Democrats: 47%
The Progress Party: 37%
The Liberal Party: 32%
The Conservative Party: 28%
The Labour Party: 28%
The Center Party: 15%
The Socialist Left Party: 13%
The Reds: 10%

I am assuming that the percentage is reflecting how many of my answers fit into the specific party's platform. The spectrum is probably so wide because of a number of reasons based on issues dealing with Norway. In the United States, I belong to the Republican Party, but I would consider myself a moderate republican, simply because I am more interested in issues than I am with party affiliation. I tend to agree with republicans on more issues, but I don't agree with everything on their platform.

*The following is a brief description of the parties according to Aftenposten.no:
The Labour Party
The Labour Party: A social democratic party that embraces solidarity and believes the public sector should play a vigorous role in society.
The Progress Party
The Progress Party: Norway's most conservative party, it believes the public sector should play a smaller role in society. It urges tax cuts and restraints on immigration.
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party: Traditionally the major rival of Labour, the Conservatives promote freedom of choice, more competition within the private sector, and tax relief.
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party: One of Norway's more right-leaning "center" parties that supports tax relief but also a strong public sector, liberalized immigration and environmental protection measures.
The Socialist Left Party
The Socialist Left Party: More left-leaning than Labour, the Socialist Left supports high taxes and fees to finance a vast array of social services.
The Christian Democrats
The Christian Democrats: Another party in the center, promoting Christian values. The party is anti-abortion, anti-poverty and pro-family.
The Center Party
The Center Party: Champion of Norway's farmers and support to the country's rural districts, this party wants less free-market influence and more public sector control of society.
The Reds
The Reds: Formed by a merger of parties including Rød Valgallianse and Norway's communist party (AKP), it wants to break down class differences and promote social equality.

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Fjords

Alright, so the fjords of Norway are not really a part of the "culture" but they certainly are a part of the Norwegian landscape that leaves any visitor to the country in awe of the beauty and splendor that Nature provides us. Anyone who does not take the opportunity to visit the Norwegian fjords at some point in their lifetime is truly missing out on one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Whether you are hiking above the sea, looking down into the fjord, taking a cruise through the fjord, or enjoying one of the towns beside a fjord, you are bound to be both content and awe-inspired as you absorb the atmosphere of near-perfection. If you love mountains, the sea, forests, waterfalls, small towns, or even large cities, there is a fjord for you to enjoy. Here are some pictures so that you may see of what I am speaking.

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Stavekirke (Stave Church)

Among the Norwegian culture is one unique form of architecture that dates back to the viking age, or rather, the end of the viking age and the advent of Christianity in Norway. Stavekirker (Stave Churches) were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Supposedly there were close to a thousand of them scattered throughout Norway immediately following the viking age and some thirty of them have survived through today. Upon visiting Norway, one may visit this old structures that oftentimes contain both Christian and Pagan elements. If you look closely at the photographs you will see both the cross (Christian) and dragons, as well as other animal figures carved into the church (Pagan). When transforming a pagan culture into a Christian one, it was helpful to use pagan elements to attract individuals, hence pagan symbols alongside Christian symbols on the churches in order to attract those who had not fully converted.
Anyhow, it is an interesting style of architecture along with interesting artwork carved into the structures. You may wish to research more in order to see the details. In the meantime, enjoy these photographs.

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Rosemaling

Please visit www.rosemaling.com (some of the pictures below are from this site).





Rosmaling is a Norwegian folk painting style that has been passed down through the generations. One may find examples of Rosmaling dating back into the 1700s within houses and on artifacts that have been preserved over time. Rosemaling continues to be a popular art form in Norway and in countries such as the United States where there are Norwegian immigrants who have adopted the style. Often times, just as in the traditional costumes of the Norwegian people, the design may be traced to a particular region of the country. However, most designs are either universal or unique. There are plenty of books and websites that will teach both the history and the technique of the art form. This website will give you several links to different Rosemaling sites. It is interesting to learn about, view, and try one's own hand at Rosemaling. Some artists are really good (and when you try your own, you quickly realize that it is much more difficult than it looks--anyone who has been to my apartment can see an attempt I made on one of my grandparent's old barn windows, which is sitting in the entry way).

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Edvard Munch

Perhaps the most famous artist to come out of Norway is Edvard Munch. While many people do not recognize the name, there is truly no more famous painting in all the world than what Munch has produced. Not even the "Mona Lisa" is more recognizable than Munch's most famous work. Love it or hate it, all are familiar with Munch's "The Scream."
Munch certainly had a troubled life, which is certainly reflected in his paintings. Many of his works are seemingly neophyte, but when one considers that Munch is an expressionist painter--one who is more concerned with the feeling and emotion that is associated with a work of art than the aesthetic beauty of the art itself--one then begins to recognize the genius of the artist. There is much to learn of Edvard Munch, but you may do that through your own research. I shall simply post a few of his paintings and let them speak for themselves.
While "The Scream" is the most popular work, I really like such paintings as: "Melancholy," "Girls," "Ashes," and "The Sick Child." They are all posted here--take a guess as to which is which, and enjoy the emotions that they evoke within you!

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Henrik Ibsen

If you haven't figured out what in the world my blogging address alludes to then tonight (or today, depending upon when you read blogs) it shall be revealed. Henrik Ibsen is my all-time favorite playwright. He is known as the father of modern drama and outside of Shakespeare is probably one of the most recognized playwrights the world over. My favorite plays by ibsen include: An Enemy of the People, Ghosts, A Doll's House, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Pillars of Society, The Master Builder, and When We Dead Awaken. Admittedly, his plays are a bit heavy and dark, but there is always thought-provoking material that is presented in such a way as not to preach a moral, yet to allow oneself to teach oneself a moral based upon the observation of the play.
I also appreciate Ibsen's candidness. He was once invited to speak at an awards ceremony for a woman's group who was honoring Ibsen for his views advancing women's rights. During his speech he said something to the effect: I could care less about women's rights. What I am for is human rights and if it happens to be a woman whose rights are being violated, then I am for her cause (of course, I am paraphrasing--these are not his exact words, but essentially the same message was given).
The following are some quotes that either Ibsen made directly or that are presented through the voice of one of his characters (most of these quotes come directly from one of his plays):

“A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.”

“Do not use that foreign word ‘ideals.’ We have that excellent native word ‘lies.’”

“It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians.”

“Look into any man’s heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed.”

“Marriage! Nothing else demands so much of a man.”

“One of the qualities of liberty is that, as long as it is being striven after, it goes on expanding. Therefore, the man who stands in the midst of the struggle and says, ‘I have it,’ merely shows by doing so that he has just lost it.”

“People who don’t know how to keep themselves healthy ought to have the decency to get themselves buried, and not waste time about it.”

“The devil is compromise.”

“The spectacles of experience; through them you will see clearly a second time.”

“The worst enemy of truth and freedom in our society is the compact majority.”

"Life is a battle with the trolls!"

"Victory is impossible for any cause that's rooted in guilt."

"Any cause that aims to win a lasting victory--needs a leader who's free of guilt and full of joy."

"No, it is the small losses in life that cut one to the heart--the loss of all that other people look upon as almost nothing."

". . . All the sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the whole fabric of our civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood. . . And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I reveled in happiness. But yesterday afternoon--the eyes of my mind were opened wide, and the first thing I realized was the colossal stupidity of the authorities. . . I can't stand leading men at any price!--I have had enough of such people in my time. They are like billy-goats in a young plantation; they do mischief everywhere. They stand in a free man's way, whichever way he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them exterminated like any other vermin-- . . . Nor is it folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing danger to the community. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. It is not they who are the most dangerous enemies of truth and freedom amongst us. . . the most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact liberal majority. . . The majority never has right on its side. Never I say! That is one of these social lies against which an independent, intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk or the stupid? I don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over. But, good lord!-- You can never pretend that it is right that the stupid folk should govern the clever ones! . . . The minority is always in the right. . . I propose to raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly of the truth. . . these 'majority truths' are like last year's cured meat--like rancid, tainted ham; and they are the origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our communities. . . It is the masses, the majority--this infernal compact majority--that poisons the sources of our moral life and infects the ground we stand on. . . That the common people, the crowd, the masses are the real essence of the people. That is only a newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more than the raw material of which a people is made. . . The kind of common people I mean are not only to be found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all around us--even in the highest social positions. . . It is ignorance, poverty, ugly conditions of life that do the devil's work! In a house that does not get aired and swept every day--my wife Katherine maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that is a debatable question--in such a house, let me tell you, people will lose within two or three years the power of thinking or acting in a moral manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. And there must be a plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses in this town, I should think, judging from the fact that the whole compact majority can be unconscientious enough to wish to build the town's prosperity on a quagmire of falsehood and deceit. . . What does the destruction of a community matter, if it lives on lies! It ought to be razed to the ground, I tell you! All who live by lies ought to be exterminated like vermin! You will end by infecting the whole country; you will bring about such a state of things that the whole country will deserve to be ruined. And if things come to that pass, I shall say from the bottom of my heart: let the whole country parish, let all these people be exterminated!"

And on that happy note, pick up a copy of one or more of Ibsen's plays or find one that is being performed and attend it. You will not regret it! As a matter of fact, any performance of Ibsen that I learn of (within driving distance) I purchase tickets to. . . and never once have I been disappointed!

Countdown to Syttende Mai--A-ha

Amongst all of the music that has come out of Norway, none is more popular world-wide then that of the band A-ha. Whether or not an individual is familiar with the band, most everyone is familiar with their first hit "Take On Me." While a-ha's popularity in the United States declined after their first few albums, their world-round renown has remained strong. According to Wikipedia, a-ha set an impressive record for rock history: "At the Rock in Rio II festival in January 1991, a-ha shocked the international entertainment press by gathering a paying audience of 198,000 people at Maracanã Stadium - a world record for paying audiences." But it is a mistake to think of a-ha as a one-hit wonder or a band from the past. In my own opinion they have several strong albums and a few weaker ones. Also, in my opinion, the weaker albums occurred in the late 80s and early 90's. Since that time they have produced stronger and better albums that far out-weigh their debut album which everyone knows them for. Their last three albums are nothing short of amazing: "Analogue" (2005), "Lifelines" (2002), and "Minor Earth Major Sky" (2000). Each of these albums has proven that a-ha continues to get better and better with each release. Following these three albums "Hunting High and Low" (1985) and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" (1990) are my favorite. While "Scoundrel Days" (1986), "Stay on these Roads" (1988), and "Memorial Beach" (1993) have some good songs on the albums, the overall creativity, talent, and pleasure of listening is lacking in comparison to the other albums.
Ultimately, the band has matured in both content and sound and honestly has become one of my top 5 bands of all time (actually my favorite, depending upon my mood at the time--if one looks at the play count in my itunes, three of the 10 most played songs are from a-ha).
Anyhow, here are a few of the music videos for the band. I will load them in chronological order for you.
First, the hit "Take On Me" from the "Hunting High and Low" album:

Next, "Crying in the Rain" from the "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" album:

Also, "I Wish I Cared" from the "Minor Earth, Major Sky" album"

Here is a live performance of one of my favorite songs, "You'll Never Get Over Me" also from the "Minor Earth, Major Sky" album:

Here is a video from their album "Lifelines." This song is titled, "Did Anyone Approach You." It is another of my a-ha favorites:

And from their most recent album "Analogue" their song "Analogue," which is the number one song on my itunes play count. It is a song that I have also had many of my friends get addicted to!:

Anyhow, I hope that you have enjoyed a little journey through some of the music that a-ha has produced over the years and that you have rediscovered one of the greatest bands of all time. . . and they happen to be from Norway!

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Röyksopp

I'd love to write a lot about Röyksopp, but it is Friday and I don't have much time between completing work and heading out for the night, so I will let the music speak for itself. Needless to say, Röyksopp is a Norwegian band from Tromsø (located on the northern coast of Norway). Do a google search for more info. In the meantime enjoy such songs as "Poor Leno":

"Eple":

"What Else Is There?":

And "Remind Me":

I hope that you have enjoyed these cool electro-chill songs. I'll be "chilling" to them on my drive out to L.A.

Countdown to Syttende Mai--The Kings of Convenience

Music always plays an important role in any given culture. Now that we have explored Grieg, Bull, and Nordraak, it is time to move to the present music scene of Norway. The last time I was in Norway (2004) I took occasion to speak with various people while waiting for a train to my next destination. One conversation with a young man led to a discussion of music and I was introduced to the Kings of Convenience. I later stopped in a music store in Stockholm, Sweden, found one of their albums, gave it a listen and instantly loved it! Ever since, I have been promoting K.O.C. (Kings of Convenience).
Anyhow, K.O.C. are from Bergen, Norway (the same hometown of both Bull and Grieg). Bergen is a beautiful city located on the west coast of Norway and is known for its music festivals. The rail-line from Oslo to Bergen is fantastic! If you are ever in Norway you must take the train between the two cities and be sure to take a little side trip to one of the fjords for a cruise--you will be blown away by the beauty and serenity that you will experience in such a location. But I am here to focus on the music not the nature in this entry, so check out a few of the videos by K.O.C. and enjoy the beauty and the serenity that comes from their music!
This first video is to the song "Misread," which I absolutely love. It is this song that initially stuck in my head and was reminiscent of a modern and much improved Simon and Garfunkel:

Next, we have a live version of "I Don't Know What I Can Save You From," which happens to be my all-time favorite K.O.C. song (actually it is tied with "Summer on the Westhill"). Needless to say, I have heard that they are awesome live. One day I shall have to make it to a concert (that would be a good excuse for a trip to Europe):

The song "I'd Rather Dance With You" is probably their most popular song in the United States:

"Cayman Islands" is a really relaxing song (as is most of their music):

Anyhow, there is so much more for true music lovers to explore both with K.O.C. and with bands from Norway. Rumor has it that K.O.C. is supposed to be working on a new album (which I hope is true). Enjoy the tunes!

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Ole Bull and Rikard Nordraak

While we are on the topic of classical music and now that you are familiar with Edvard Grieg, it is important to note two great influences on Grieg who are also Norwegian: Ole Bull and Rikard Nordraak. Ole Bull was a great violinist (well renowned throughout Europe in his day) who saw within Grieg a great potential at a young age. It was Bull who made it possible for Grieg to study overseas and develop his talents. During his studies in Denmark, Grieg met and befriended another student of music, Rikard Nordraak. Nordraak is credited with assisting Grieg in championing the folk influences from Norway into the classical compositions which he wrote. Nordraak is the composer of Norway's national anthem, but unfortunately, he died from TB at the young age of twenty-two. Grieg composed the following funeral march in honor of Nordraak (Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak):

Countdown to Syttende Mai--Edvard Grieg

Most Americans know little to nothing concerning Norway, yet most will readily recognize things that are Norwegian without knowing that they are Norwegian. Case and point: Edvard Grieg. By mere mention of the name Grieg many are still at a loss, yet once the music begins to play seemingly all reply, "I know this song!" Hence, most everyone knows Grieg without knowing Grieg!
Edvard Grieg has many famous compositions. He wrote during Norway's National Romantic Period and employed many elements of the Norwegian folk tradition. I could go on and on about the life and works of Edvard Grieg, but I won't. If you are interested in learning more you may wish to check this out.
You may also wish to listen to a few of the works of Edvard Grieg. Some of the slide shows found on youtube that accompany his work are good, while others. . . well, you know.
This first video has pictures from Norway and is a composition titled, "Våren" (Last Spring):

This second video (which isn't a video at all) is a composition titled, "Morgenstemning" (Morning Mood). It is the one that most American's recognize as it has been used in many commercials and Saturday morning cartoons:

"I Dovregubbens hall" (In the Hall of the Mountain King) is another popular composition by Grieg. It has also been hijacked commercially in the United States:

This next composition is hauntingly beautiful. It is titled, "Aases død" (The death of Aase):

And finally, let's end on a happy note with "Anitras dans" (Anitra's Dance) from an old vinyl record:

Well, I hope that you enjoyed your exposure to Grieg! There is much more to his repertoire and I own a lot of it, so feel free to come on over for a listen or borrow one of the cds!
p.s. All of the above compositions are from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, which happens to be the first songs of Grieg that I was exposed to, causing me to become an avid fan of Grieg and leading me to a love of classical music.

Countdown to Syttende Mai

So I was contemplating what I could do on this blog to support and promote Syttende Mai and I thought that on the very day of the celebration I could post a blog celebrating all things Norwegian. Then it occurred to me that I would be spending all day on the 17th blogging--that is not how I want to celebrate the day, so I have decided that I will do a countdown to Syttende Mai. . . or in other words, each day between now and the 17th I will post something in relation to Norway.

I figure that a good place to begin the countdown would be from a journal entry I wrote the very first time I visited Norway. This particular entry was written on July 21, 1999:
". . . I arrived in Narvik [a city in Northern Norway, located about 200 miles above the arctic circle] just a little before 1 p.m. today. I made many notes in my notebook concerning the scenery during the train ride today. I shall share that progression of thought with you now, writing as if at the moment as that is what I did in my notebook.
I feel like a young lad on Christmas morning; each scene by the train window is like a new gift being opened up to my eyes and I sit with eyes fixed in awe and wonder at what next passes by. The purple and gold flowers that line the embankment nearby the railroad tracks is a symbol to me of nature's embroidered nobility here in the north. The forests are as thick as darkness on a long winter night and occasionally open up to a lush meadow or a brilliant lake. I cannot sit but five minutes without passing either another lake or river.
It is a bit overcast today and a great mist or fog lies hunched over the hills and is creeping slowly downward, stretching its fingers through the valleys. The flatlands have turned to hills and hills to mountains and as the train races ever upward I peer down upon a giant lake like a hawk that views a writhing sea of snakes slithering towards the shore.
There is snow to be seen upon the distant mountain peaks. Rocks protrude through the forest's skin and rivers course their way through the land like veins that carry the lifeblood through the earth. Every scene seems to build upon itself, heightening what you feel will soon be the climax only to realize that nature's plot only thickens and increases your love and respect with each passing mile.
Further in the north there are not so many trees. Mountains awake and hills swell and wrinkle through the land. It is very rocky here and small streams and ponds scatter themselves between the hills. Grasses and shrubs surround the rocky hills and mountains which bring about a green and gray jig-saw puzzle. Homes leap across the way from hill to hill, rock to rock, sparsely showered about.
The trees have returned and the train pushes forward on the edge of a rocky cliff. Below in a ravine winds a torrent river and an occasional waterfall cascades down the face into the depths below. There is a stillness and beauty all her own here in the north, untainted by our grotesque human hands. The only movement seen besides the train is nature herself singing and dancing about in her traditional course which she has ever so stalwartly performed throughout the years. Her's is an art that we rarely truly behold and understand.
The train passes above the fjord, peering straight down a cliff into the magnificent waters below. Mountains appear to mirror each other on either side of the sea. It looks as if they were all just one mountain range that the Lord parted and said, "Let there be fjords!" That is the power and majesty that is presented with their sight. I was so excited upon first seeing the fjord. My heart began to pound, my body began to quiver, my mouth stretched forth a smile that could connect the rims of the Grand Canyon, and I felt like I was going to cry. At last, my life long dream of seeing the fjords is a reality, and my ideal dream cannot compare to the real life magnificence that I beheld. . . The mountain peaks soared into the heavens and they appeared to be the gateway to the Celestial Kingdom. If not so, than it is at least a real life Valhalla--home of the gods. . ."

Syttende Mai

Well, it is hard to believe but Syttende Mai is already fast approaching. Syttende Mai (May 17th) is Norway's Constitution Day--a day filled with festivities in the country as they celebrate their independence. I use it as a good excuse to bring friends together to enjoy good company and good food in celebration of my ancestors traditions. Usually I invite a few friends over for a Scandinavian meal and then invite even more friends over to enjoy the evening. This year, a friend is getting married on May 17th and the happy couple is having their reception that evening. As such, I shall have to forego the meal this year (sorry), but I am planning on having people over for Scandinavian desserts. So mark your calendars and head on over at 8 p.m. (that should give everyone ample time to stop by Chris and Mary's reception). If you have any questions, please let me know.

Summer Moved On

For this week's music adventure we are heading back to Norway to explore the sounds of a familiar band that most people believe is a one-hit-wonder. It is truly sad that most people think of A-ha in such a way. While "Take On Me" was a great song, and what the band is known for, it isn't even close to their best song. Most people don't realize that in the 1990s, A-ha set the record for the largest paying audience for a concert and that the band continues to create albums even to the present time. Apparently there was a falling out with American record companies and A-ha has since produced on a German label and tours seemingly everywhere but America. Anyhow, "Summer Moved On" is from their 2000 album "Minor Earth, Major Sky." It is a really good song, but once again, not their best. I am confident that anyone who takes the time to discover their most recent albums will be very impressed both by the quality of the music and the depth of the lyrics--this is certainly not American pop music, thankfully. Jeg elsker dette musikk! Det er meget god! Enjoy.