Programs Offered

Programs: Rooted in tradition. Designed to engage

Renee offers immersive experiences that bring Nordic folk culture to life—through music, storytelling, and visual art. Her programs are tailored for a wide range of audiences, from schools and museums to cultural festivals and community gatherings. Each one is crafted to spark curiosity, celebrate heritage, and bring people together through shared cultural experience.

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Image based on painting, "Nøkken" by Theodor Kittelsen, 1904

Enchanted Echoes: Tales ofNyckelharpa & Näcken

Explore the rich folklore woven into Scandinavian Folk Music, including legends of the Näcken, a shapeshifting spirit with the power to enchant musicians and their instruments. Once enchanted, their music held the extraordinary ability to make chairs dance and stop waterfalls. Musicians themselves could cast spells at one another, necessitating protective measures like a trollpåse hidden in their instrument.

Discover the intriguing magic chart crafted by a Swedish musician in the mid 1800's, which connected musical keys with colors, seasons, and emotions. His fiddle and music book immigrated to Minnesota with his son in the late 1800's.

Hear the tales and tunes for many Swedish folk classics like Hårgalåten, Pinntorpafrun, Balzar Jungfrun and more.

Hård Lars Larsson in MN
Born 1822, Älvdalen Sweden.
Died 1916 Beltrami County, Minnesota, USA
Photo of Hård Lars Larsson found in "Spelmän, låtar och musik i Älvdalen" by Ragnar Forslund (1926-) Elfdalens hembygdsförening. 2006. Used with permission.

Folk Music and the Nordic Newcomers: 1st Generation Swedish Immigrants in the Upper Midwest

During the mid to late 1800s, the Upper Midwest became the chosen homeland for thousands of Swedish immigrants, including some of the most skilled musicians from their villages before they departed for this new land.

Renee's presentation highlights the lives and musical heritage of many distinguished musicians, how their music adapted upon arrival in Minnesota, and how it has influenced the musical landscape of the upper-midwest. Instruments include fiddlers, accordionists, nyckelharpa players and even bagpipers!

Back in the old country, these Swedish musicians' legacies live on and their favorite tunes continue to be played.

Dalmålning av Kers Erik Jönsson, Lima, Leksand. 1836-7. "Tre Kvinnor ut Til Christi Graf." (Three women at Christ's Grave) Dalarnas Msuem Collection, Sweden.

Swedish Folk Painting: Iconic Kurbits and Dalmålning: Historical Perspectives, and Modern Interpretations

Dalmålning, also known as kurbits painting, is a distinctive form of Swedish folk art from mid 1700's to the mid 1800's that shares similar design elements to those found in French Quimper and German Fraktur paintings. Dalmålnings are highly decorative and features imaginative fantasy plants with borders and typically tell a story of daily peasant life, royalty and religious motifs within local settings.

Renee offers dalmålning presentations that explore the history and cultural significance of this art form. A hands-on workshop is also available to create your own kurbits-style painting. These sessions are perfect for beginners, intermediates and anyone who identifies as kurbits-curious.

Resonating Roots: The Nyckelharpa's Journey to the Upper Midwest: Instruments, Musicians and Makers

The Nyckelharpa has found a passionate following in the upper Midwest, particularly in Minnesota. But how did this cherished national folk instrument of Sweden make its way here?

With an unbroken tradition spanning over 700 years, a typical nyckelharpa today boasts 16 strings—three dedicated to melody, one drone string, and the remaining 12 as resonant strings, contributing to its distinctive rustic and ethereal sound.

This presentation sheds light on the instrument's rich cultural significance, its journey to America, and the musicians and makers who continue to grow its legacy.

(Photo "Caricature of a Man-Midwife" adapted from the Wellcome Library Collection.

Harmonizing Identities: The True Story of 1700's Nyckelharpist Maria Johansdotter/Magnus Johansson

Harmonizing Identities: The True Story of 1700's Nyckelharpist Maria Johansdotter/Magnus Johansson
Meet Maria Johansdotter: a pioneering transgender individual and talented nyckelharpist, who lived during the late 1600s and early 1700s in Åland, Finland, before immigrating to Sweden.

Upon her arrival in Stockholm as a young adult, Maria boldly performed on the nyckelharpa while dressed in trousers at local taverns, breaking two societal norms for women of their time. However, their most courageous act was the decision to live authentically as a man and assumed their new identity, Magnus Johansson. Despite facing scrutiny and persecution, Magnus remained unwavering in his passion for music and for women.

This presentation highlights the remarkable journey of Maria Johansdotter/Magnus Johansson, featuring captivating tunes from their era and location. Additionally, it explores key moments in trans-history in Finland and Sweden.