Music in Sweden 2 - Folk music
Working songs

 

Working songs The music of the summer pastures has been described above. There are also folk songs of a more recent date which belong to particular tasks. One such group of songs consists of Swedish shanties used on the sailing-ships. New occupations which sprung up during the 19th century in connection with the building of roads and the laying of railroads, mining and forestry etc, demanded collective exertions for the moving of heavy articles: song was an excellent way of co-ordinating the movements of a gang of workers. These songs had an even beat and the moment when the gang should collectively pull or push, loose a rope, or let a hammer fall was unmistakably marked in the rhythm. Increased mechanisation and noise in places of work made work songs redundant.

 

Working songs
Music in Sweden 2 - Folk music