Birth name Anna-Kajsa Norman Genres Swedish folk music Died 1903 | Name Anna-Kajsa Norman Occupation(s) spelman | |
Also known as Spel-Stina or Spelstina | ||
Norr om Stockholm - Öka takten pojkar
Anna-Kajsa Norman (1820–1903), known as Spel-Stina or Spelstina (Playing Stina), was a Swedish folk musician, a spelman (violinist), and a composer.
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Life
Norman was born in Dalarna and lived her adult life in Torsåker. Originally working as servant, she came to be regarded as one of the best spelmans in Gästrikland for her skill as a violinist within folk music. Female spelmans were a rarity, and she is also one of the few female spelmans which are sufficiently documented.
Norman was unmarried but lived with Erik Hellström i Berg, with whom she had five children, among them her son Anders, who wrote down her songs.
Anna-Kajsa Norman composed two collections of songs: Från Hälsingland and Från Delsbo.
Legacy
In 2004, Spelstinamedaljen (The Spelstina Medal) and Spelstinastipendiet (The Spelstina Scholarship) was named after her. It is annually awarded female folk musicians.