By Laila Yrvum

The accordion had its breakthrough in the early twentieth century and was adopted by the Travellers. Some of them evolved into highly skilled accordion players and made their living as musicians. Carl Jularbo from Sweden was the most famous one.

Another popular instrument among Travellers since the 1950s is the guitar. The Travellers have always been influenced by ever-changing music trends. Nevertheless, they have managed to preserve their unique ballad heritage. The most distinctive feature of their ballad tradition is its melancholy tone (many ballads are in the minor key), which may be explained by their demanding life on the road.

Eventually the Travellers’ music was notably influenced by popular music. In the 1950s, Swedish ballads became very popular. If you ask the older generation, they will mention names such as Harry Brandelius, Anita Lindblom and Cornelis Vreeswijk.

In the 1960s, dance band music became important to the Travellers. Another genre that has influenced their music over the past 50 years is country music. To summarise, it is fair to say that music has been one of the most important expressions of equality and self-esteem among Travellers. Music has provided an outlet during difficult times. It is good to see that a number of musicians of Traveller background are becoming important and visible fixtures in Norwegian music today. These musicians appear in all music genres, and they have gained popularity among much of the population.

In recent decades, Traveller musicians have performed different types of music. They include Lasse Johansen, Elias Akselsen, Åge Aleksandersen and Laila Yrvum. Lasse Johansen is primarily a dance band musician, but he has also released records of traditional ballads.  

Laila Yrvum is a folk music performer, while Åge Aleksandersen is primarily known for Norwegian rock. Elias Akselsen is perhaps the most important bearer of tradition with regard to the old Tater/Romani ballads.