Scandianvian chorus gives voice to songs of old in Snohomish and Island county performances

“Ro, ro, ro din båt.” That’s “ Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in Norwegian.

Rita Belvill translates songs of her childhood for the Northwest Nordic Ladies Chorus. She belongs to the chorus, which entertains around Snohomish and Island counties.

“I was happy to find a Scandinavian chorus that was meeting for practices in Everett,” Belvill said. “I have belonged to Sons of Norway for many years and have always hoped to be able to be in a Scandinavian choir group.”

Her parents are both from Norway and moved to the Seattle area when she was 7. When her aunts, uncles and cousins in Norway learned she was in a chorus, her proud father e-mailed everyone pictures of the group.

“I remember singing many Norwegian songs as a child and especially at Christmas time,” she said. “I would sing Norwegian lullabies and songs to my daughter when she was little.”

Singing with the chorus gives her a chance to learn and re-learn songs she knew.

“I think that most Scandinavians appreciate music in any format from the accordion to fiddle to voice. During the Christmas holidays we performed our Christmas songs and it was fun to see the joy many people with Scandinavian heritage got both singing and listening to the songs.”

Jerilyn Wibbens, who lives in Mukilteo, said the group usually sings a song in its original language, then a verse in English.

“We like to announce our songs and the meaning behind it before we sing,” Wibbens said. “It’s fun for the audience to get some history about the music.”

She said it’s been great making new friends in the group. They are learning both Norwegian and Swedish songs for upcoming performances.

“We will get a chance to sing songs from more of the Nordic countries in the future,” she said. “Being that I speak and read Norwegian, I help with the pronunciation and translating of the Norwegian songs. Other members who speak Swedish help with the Swedish songs.”

Learning about the history of the music and learning how to sing the songs correctly is illuminating, Wibbens said. They practiced a song called “Alle Fugler sma de er” and she realized that for many years she had been singing one of the words as sissel, rather than sissik.

“Sissel was the name of one of my childhood friends,” Wibbens said. “Very funny.”

New members are welcome and don’t have to be Scandinavian. For more information, call Wibbens at 425-315-1601 or e-mail NWNordicLadies@msn.com.

Wibbens is third-generation Norwegian. Her father spoke the language, directed singing groups and sang at Christmastime. She studied vocal music and Norwegian in college in Minnesota. She toured Norway with her Augsburg College Choir.

After moving to Washington with her husband and daughter, she sang with the SnoKing Chorale in Edmonds.

She started the singing group after visiting with Daughters of Norway, Thelma Lodge. The group is also affiliated with Sons of Norway.

They perform May 17 at Normanna Hall in Everett wearing long black skirts, white blouses and blue shawls.

Members come from Whidbey Island, Marysville, Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Mukilteo, Edmonds, Bothell and Everett.

Belvill said they entertain at Scandinavian events and senior centers. They sing in Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and if requested, Danish and Icelandic.

“I look forward to going to practice every week,” Belvill said.

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.