Trond Hallvard Kverno: Creative competencies in new Norwegian folk music

Field of study: Practice-oriented Musicology

The overall research question for the project is as follows:

How can creative processes in contemporary folk music be understood in light of Valkyrien Allstars?

With their roots in the folk music genre, Valkyrien Allstars is one of the most innovative bands in Norway. They break with conventions and expectations, and they are an example of how folk music can consist of several different impulses and genre expressions.

In their album Slutte og byne (2020), Valkyrien Allstars incorporate elements of rap, jazz, African rhythms and pop, while they continue to use established expressions from folk music. This raises questions about how creative processes in folk music have changed, and also how we can understand originality and authenticity in a traditional genre like folk music. Through this project, Kverno wants to take a fresh look at the genre with purpose to gain better insight into how such creative processes and creative practices take place. Valkyrien Allstars is particularly interesting as they have been at the forefront of a growing interest in Norwegian folk music.

In folk music, composition, improvisation and interpretation merge into one another. This study will combine analyses of compositional processes, improvisational techniques and interpretation with aesthetic, historical and philosophical approaches to better understand how folk music is created and practiced today.

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Trond Hallvard Kverno is enrolled in the PhD programme in Music Research from 1 September 2025.