Music of Sweden

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The music of Sweden shares roots with its neighbouring countries in Scandinavia, as well as Eastern Europe, including polka, schottische, waltz, polska and mazurka. The Swedish fiddle and nyckelharpa are among the most common Swedish folk instruments. The instrumental genre is the biggest one in Sweden. In the 1960s, Swedish youth sparked a roots revival in Swedish folk culture. Many joined Spelmanslag (folk musicians' clubs) and performed on mainstream radio and TV. They focused on instrumental polska music, with vocals and influences from other traditional genres becoming more prominent since the 1990s. By 1970, the "dansband" culture also began. Music in Sweden is a vital part of Swedish culture, as evidenced by the national success of musical shows like Allsång på Skansen and Melodifestivalen.^[1]

Swedish music has also included more modern and influences. On a per capita basis, Sweden is the world's most successful exporter of music.^[2] Its most famous export is ABBA, one of the best-selling popular music groups of all time. Sweden has also historically dominated the Scandinavian music scene, with Danes and Norwegians listening to music in Swedish rather than the other way around.^[3] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Scandinavian death metal bands became very popular with the international heavy metal community.

Music in Sweden has a long history, with musical evidence dating back to prehistory. Throughout the history of Sweden, the Swedish monarchy have been extensive patrons; notably, Gustav Vasa and Gustav III were both considered very fond of music. Gustav Vasa encouraged musicians to attend his court,^[4] and Gustav III would found the Royal Swedish Opera and Royal Swedish Academy of Music; the latter institutions are still major promoters of Swedish music today.^[5] Sweden's most famous classic troubadour was Carl Michael Bellman, who lived from 1740 to 1795; he is famous for his extensive use of the lower class in his works. Later examples of troubadours include Evert Taube, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Fred Åkerström, and Povel Ramel. Amongst other well-known classical Swedish composers are Joseph Martin Kraus, Franz Berwald and Johan Helmich Roman.^[6]