TUTL Économusée

An Économusée is an artisan trade operation, which has been selected because of its commitment to quality and authenticity of traditional craft and art.

TUTL is the first Économusée, based on musical traditions.
The mission of Économusée Nortern Europe is to showcase
traditional crafts and know-how and how these are kept alive.

Here, you can learn about history, traditional techniques and contemporary products stamped with identity and originality.

The mandate of the organisations is to develop the Économusées in the North Atlantic region.

We offer an innovative cultural tourist product.

Ballad song in dance form became popular in the Faroe Islands in the Middle Ages.

The songs are grouped as 'kvæði,' 'vísur,' and 'tættir.' These three forms differ from each other in content of the text, rhythm and melody. Dance is the element they all share.

The Faroese dance is performed in a closed ring. The dancers hold hands and dance facing inwards. The dance steps counts 6 main beats. This rhythm (stevið) is repeated continuously.

The melodies, however, usually have a different rhythmic structure, for instance 4 and 3 beats, resulting in a polyrhythmic pattern.

The entire volume of the Faroese dance tradition is enormous: 75.000 verses were passed down in an unbroken oral tradition for centuries. You will find heroic, historic, satirical and love stories in the songs.

The language in most of the songs is Faroese, although there are also several in Danish. A great part of the melodies are ancient, and musically directly connected to the Middle Ages.

The melodies and also the stories of the ballads have inspired artists since the first composers began writing songs and instrumental works in the Faroe Islands.

For jazz, folk and rock musicians, the ancient tonality and rhythm can be successfully integrated in present day's music.

Some write music directly based on existing songs, and others incorporate the musical language into their original compositions.

One of the most prolific and popular modern Faroese artists to do this in their musical approach is Eivør.

The Viking metal band TÝR is another example of a style using both ways of music making.

Church singing retained, even after the Reformation in 1537, many of the characteristics, which were introduced in Catholic times. These were developed in such a way that the hymn singing, usually named "Kingosálmar" or simply "Kingo" - named after Thomas Kingo's hymn book from 1699 - acquired its own national character. While, from a musical point of view, the strength of the Faroese dance lies in rhythm and drama, in "Kingosálmar," the strength lies in the wide range of melodic expression.

To carry the musical storytelling of the Faroese dance, the melodies often have a repetition of notes. Although not unknown in "Kingosálmar," these are usually uncharacteristic for the hymn tunes. Traditionally, some hymns will have variations from village to village, or even use different melodies. Also individual ways of singing was common. In certain parts of the country, the melodies are very complicated particularly in the north of the Faroes, while in southern parts the melodies appear to be more closely akin to the northern European style of hymns.

This old way of singing has been almost abandoned, superseded by more modern tunes accompanied by the organ. Fortunately, a great part of the Kingo singing tradition has been recorded and transcribed, to leave present Faroese artists with a vast source of inspiration.

The language of the church was Danish well into the 20th century - both singing and preaching was in Danish. Many of the hymns have now been translated to Faroese, and present day artists use the original Danish texts as well as Faroese versions.

The individuality we find in traditional Kingo singing lends itself in a natural way to improvisations.

For instance, Hamferð, a doom metal band has recorded an acclaimed version of the Kingo hymn, "Harra Guð, títt dýra navn og æra," with Faroese lyrics. Their original compositions also have basic expressions in common with the slow and dark side of hymns.

The Faroese ballad dance, "Kingosálmar" and "skjaldur" all have in common that they are vocal. There was one feature of music that was very late in coming to the Faroes; musical instruments were practically unknown for several centuries.

Instruments such as harp and wind instruments are mentioned in the ballads, but there is nothing, which suggests that the instruments themselves were to be heard locally.

Later down the lineage of history, musical instruments became better known. This is seen, for example, in Jens Christian Svabo's (1746-1824) "Indberetninger/Reports 1781 and 1782," where he - a linguist, scholar and ethnographer - expresses the following pessimistic opinion about the chances of survival of the Faroese dance:

Svabo himself played the violin. A music book with dance tunes that he noted down and played from has been found, so this is an early example of instrumental music in the Faroes. The repertoire of Svabo was similar to that of many other folk musicians in Nordic countries in the late 18th century.

Svabo lived for his last several years in Pætursastova in Tórshavn, where this book, originally dated 1775, was found as late as in 1928. Although best known for his linguistic work and description of Faroese society, he must have been an inspiration for folk and dance musicians.

Another musician, Georg Hansen (1844-1924) aka Bakar Hansen, taught violin in particular, so in the late 19th century, there was a steady growing interest in instrumental music. In the early Faroese newspapers, letters were often featured from readers, arguing for and against the "snurredans"or "turning dances." It is important note that classical ensembles and brass bands had also been established by then.

Up until recent years, most of the repertoire played at dances were standard northern Europeans polkas, waltzes, scottishes, not especially related to the Faroe Islands. Visiting seamen, particularly from Norway, as well as Faroese seamen travelling abroad came home with new tunes to be enjoyed at the Faroese dance halls.

Below is a modern example from popular Faroese folk group Spælimenninir.

TUTL Économusée and the TUTL shop presents a rich opportunity to discover and experience live Faroese music and to explore the wide variety of genres that the musical islands have to offer - in the heart of Tórshavn.

The TUTL shop is a lively music hub, situated on Niels Finsensgøta 9c or 'the Happy Corner' as it's also known, on the main of street in the capital.

Stop by our shop to enjoy free coffee, friendly staff and a chat about the diverse Faroese music scene.

During summer time, we arrange free live concerts weekdays at 4pm with Faroese musicians as well as a special guided TUTL Music Walk. Sign up and learn more about this on the TUTL website, in the TUTL shop or at Visit Tórshavn.

Check out our Music Event Calendar for current information.

Music as a souvenir - the TUTL shop is ideal if you're looking for unique gifts or souvenirs TAX-FREE!

See more on TUTL Records at TUTL.com.

Other Économusées in the Faroe Islands include: Mikkjal, the blacksmith, situated in Trøllanes - Mona, the wool spinnery, situated in Klaksvík - and The Boatbuilder við Ánna, situated in Tvøroyri.