Ingebretsen's Nordic Marketplace

A music reviewer in Tucson, Arizona said of Kari Tauring’s new CD Nykken & Bear, “get comfortable and play the whole thing from start to finish. It’s a wonderful journey.” That’s exactly what we intend to do at Ingebretsen’s this Friday evening from 6 to 7:30. We are gathering in our classroom to have an old-fashioned listening party. Those of us who remember the fun of sharing a new album with friends decided it was time to bring listening parties back into vogue. So, if you are a young music lover who never experienced a listening party, or if a listening party is a 70s flashback for you, join us.

This listening party will be especially enjoyable because Kari will be joining us and sharing insights into her creative process. The CD is a collage of poems, songs, and stories about the Nykken (a water spirit) and the Bear ( a shape-shifting creature in Norwegian mythology). It is through these characters that Kari explores some of the story of her Norwegian-American heritage.

This is an all-ages party. The Bear portion of the CD has a waltz, a longdans, a children’s game, and a ritual dance. It’s perfect for those very young listeners who need to move to appreciate music.

Kari has taught Nordic roots to adults and children at Ingebretsen’s for years; her lively classes are enjoyed by the staff as much as by the people participating in them. The widespread support for her work was shown in a concrete way when Kari successfully funded the production of this CD through Kickstarter. This is a wonderful opportunity to share new music and to celebrate the success of Kari, one of our local artistic treasures.

Listening party and CD release for Nykken & Bear at Ingebretsen’s, 1601 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN. Friday, June 14, 6 to 7:30 (2013).

–Carstens Smith