Scandinavian folk music coming to Northfield's 1888 Depot

A free concert at Northfield’s 1888 Depot in February will feature the wooden flute duo Amy Shaw and Laura MacKenzie of Twinflower. Shaw and MacKenzie will perform traditional music from Scandinavia on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.

Twinflower is named for a wildflower that is native to both North America and Sweden. The duo’s special focus is the vibrant flute tradition that existed in parts of Sweden during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

“When people think of folk music, the fiddle often comes to mind; however, the wooden flute was another popular instrument in the Nordic countries,” explained MacKenzie, a Northfield native. “In the southern provinces of Sweden, many flute players in rural places had rich repertoires of polskas, waltzes, and other dance tunes. Many of these beautiful old flute tunes have been preserved, and a new generation of flute players is literally breathing new life into them.”

The duo received a fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation to study with some of the tradition bearers in Sweden. Upon their return home to St. Paul, they are ready to share this unique music with fresh audiences.

Shaw first encountered the wooden flute as a graduate student at the University of South Dakota. Active as a performer and music scholar, she is the author of “Ole Hendricks and His Tunebook: Folk Music and Community on the Frontier” (University of Wisconsin Press, 2020).

MacKenzie was introduced to wooden flute-playing while preparing for a degree in ethnomusicology. The experience led her to leave academia for a career in traditional music, with an emphasis on wooden flutes. She is an Archibald Bush Foundation Fellow in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts.

Guitarist Chris Bashor will be joining the duo for a portion of the Northfield Depot program.

If You Go Twinflower will perform a free concert at the historic Northfield Depot on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Seating is limited inside the historic depot, so concert goers should come early. For more information, check out the website: www.lauramackenzie.com/twinflower