Album Notes

The Northern Folk Harp is a calm, relaxing CD filled with exquisite, ancient melodies of the North. Beth has collected beautiful traditional songs, dances and airs during her travels in Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Scotland, here performed for you on her folk harp and flute.

All music reflects the language of the nation from which it comes, so the Celtic and Nordic traditions differ in mode, rhythm and emphasis. But both traditions draw inspiration from the native folk dance, from the hills and from the sea, even from the humor and personalities of the people. Celtic and Nordic music blend well together, so Beth chose her favorite tunes from both traditions for this album.

The folk harp is found in most countries in Europe. Some say the harp predates the pipes in Ireland and Scotland, and that the pipes drew their melodic ornaments from the harp tradition. Who knows? It's easier, though, to march with pipes than with a harp!

The harp tradition in Scandinavia began to die away during the Industrial Revolution. In 2006, Beth brought a tour group of musicians to Norway and Sweden to help encourage more harp playing, and in 2008 another tour group traveled to the beautiful fjord country of Norway (see HARPA CD).

Beth Kollé performs and presents workshops on harp, flute and whistle, and sings in Norwegian, Swedish and Gaelic. She also teaches Scandinavian folkdance and song at festivals and retreats around the United States and in Europe.

Immersed in both the Scandinavian and Gaelic communities in Seattle, Beth performs solo and with the groups Crookshank and Greensleeves. She has published six acclaimed books of harp arrangements, and released six recordings. Beth brings a fresh perspective to the ageless traditional music of the Nordic and Celtic lands.