Embedded Files
Sons of Norway Song Book
A living history of the Norwegian-American People
In 1926 the Sons of Norway published the first edition of the Sønner af Norge Sangbog (Sons of Norway Song Book), a collection of 134 songs to be "used and enjoyed at meetings and festive events, when singing either solo or in a chorus." The first edition of the song book is almost entirely in Norwegian, with the exception of some favorite American ballads that are included at the end of the book (Old Folks at Home, Goodnight Ladies, and Aloha Oe among them). In 1948, an updated, bilingual edition of the song book was published, and in 1967, the familiar Sons of Norway Song Book with its blue binding was published.
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the initial publication of the Sons of Norway Song Book, soprano Laura Loge and pianist Steven Luksan offer a program that explores the rich heritage of Norwegian and Norwegian-American music found in all three editions of the book.
This program features a variety of songs from the Song Book, including optional opportunities for sing-alongs. Interspersed between performances of the music from this song book, audiences will learn about the history of the songs, the composers, and the Norwegian-American immigrant experience. Song texts and English translations for Norwegian songs will be available.
Steven and Laura can present this program in a "concert-style" program or in a "lecture-recital" format. The program runtime is about 60-70 minutes, but shorter versions of the program are available, too.
(Please note, Steven and Laura are not officially affiliated with the Sons of Norway and are presenting this project indendently as a culturral experience within the Norwegian-American community.)
Are you interested in hosting a performance of the Sons of Norway Song Book Project at your Lodge, cultural center, or concert series?
Please contact steven@stevenluksan.com for more details!
About the Musicians
Laura Loge
Laura Loge is a soprano, Nordic song and chamber music specialist, mom, urban chicken farmer, and native of Montana. Between earning degrees from St. Olaf College and the New England Conservatory of Music, she spent several years in Norway and Italy where she learned to love and embrace their cultures, languages, and foods. She has self-managed her career as a soprano soloist for nearly two decades, was the Artistic Director of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music series when it was hosted by the National Nordic Museum, is founder and president of the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society, and continues the Nordic Chamber Music series, forging a new chapter for it in multiple venues.
Steven Luksan
Steven Luksan is a composer, pianist, and educator making music in Seattle, WA, USA. He is an active performer in the Puget Sound region, doing freelance work in addition to being a collaborative pianist at Seattle Opera and the accompanist for the Seattle Mannskor (The Norwegian Male Chorus of Seattle). He currently serves as Composer-in-Residence with the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society and is the founder and artistic director of the Saltwater Music Series (Des Moines, WA), a concert series dedicated to performances of local and off-the-beaten-path chamber music.
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