Much has been learned about early music in Norway from physical artifacts found during archaeological digs. These include instruments such as the lur. Viking and medieval sagas also describe musical activity, as do the accounts of priests and pilgrims from all over Europe coming to visit St Olaf's grave in Trondheim.
In traditional Sámi music songs and joiks are important musical expressions of the Sámi people and Sámi languages. The Sámi also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Sámi, some traditional Scandinavian, and some modern introductions.
Jens Christian Bugge Wesseltoft is a Norwegian jazz musician, pianist, composer and producer, son of the jazz guitarist Erik Wesseltoft.
Mari Boine is a Norwegian Sámi singer. She combined traditional Sámi joik singing with rock. In 2008, she became a professor of musicology at Nesna University College.
Gula Gula is an album by the Sámi singer Mari Boine, recorded in 1989 and released on the Iđut and Virgin labels. It provided her breakthrough, making her internationally famous; it was followed by numerous other albums. It won a Norwegian Grammy award in 1989. Boine appeared on the album as "Mari Boine Persen", her Norwegian name; on later albums she used her Sámi name only.
Maya Dunietz, is an international musician and artist, combining a solo career with collaborations with renowned musicians: Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Roscoe Mitchell, John Tilbury, Habiluim, and many others. Her works are exhibited in venues such as Centre Pompidou Paris, Athens Onassis Center, Frac Paca, and CCA Tel Aviv.
Roger Ludvigsen is a Sami guitarist, percussionist and composer from Kautokeino.
Cheikha Rabia is an Algerian singer born in Relizane in Algeria.
Johan Sara Jr. is a Sami musician and a central Sami composer, producer, teacher, arranger, actor and performer of contemporary music with roots in the Sami tradition.
Ole Jørn Myklebust is a Norwegian Jazz musician, educated at the Norges Musikkhøgskole. Known for performing in Subtonic, Køhn/Johansen Sextet, Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble, Østenfor Sol and Dixi, Myklebust has collaborated with Mari Boine and Unni Wilhelmsen.
Roger Johansen is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums) and composer, the older brother of Jazz trumpetist Tore Johansen, known as leader of his own "Roger Johansen Group", and cooperations with musicians like Randy Brecker, Tore Johansen, Jan Erik Kongshaug, Hallgeir Pedersen, Harald Halvorsen, Halvard Kausland, and Staffan William-Olsson.
Mari Kvien Brunvoll is a Norwegian folk and jazz singer who has over the past few years attracted attention at festivals internationally with her solo concept, where the voice is complemented by small electronic and acoustic instruments in a sound inspired by jazz, pop and folk music. She is the daughter of Lawyer Knut Anker Brunvoll and jazz singer and pianist Inger Johanne Brunvoll, and the younger sister of songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Ane Brun and photographer Bjørn Brunvoll.
Nordlysprisen is an annual award presented by the newspaper Nordlys during the opening concert at Nordlysfestivalen in Tromsø, Norway. Nordlysprisen is awarded to a performing musician or composer, that through their work in Northern Norway has excelled at a high artistic level and therefore contributed to highlighting the region's musical life in a positive way. In 2013 the prize-winner was awarded 50 000 Norwegian kroner.
Oslo International Jazz Festival is a Norwegian music event, held in August, with a focus on music form the jazz genre, performed on stages in Oslo.
The Northern Lights Music Festival or Nordlysfestivalen is a Norwegian music festival, held in January–February. In 2012 The Northern Lights Festival celebrated their 25th anniversary.
Harald Devold was a Norwegian jazz musician from Vadsø, Finnmark. He is also known as a big band organizer, music producer and music political activist. He was born and raised in Langevåg, Sula, Møre og Romsdal.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1965 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1964 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1956 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1941 in Norwegian music.
