The weather is echoing the mood – from spring in the air, sun galore, take- the -downjacket-off temperatures to snow on the ground with rain, sleet, and wind in-between.

Let’s focus on spring and good moods. And Kulning. What’s that, you ask? It’s what comes to my mind when I wander on Sauvie Island, happy, looking at the first signs of spring off-set by the snow covered mountains. Stare at the cows, and admire the birds.

Kulning was the traditional singing of Scandinavian women herders. “Less than a century ago, Sweden’s remote forests and mountain pastures swelled with women’s voices each summer. As dusk approached, the haunting calls of kulning echoed through the trees in short, cascading, lyricless phrases. Though often quite melodic, these weren’t simply musical expressions. They were messages intended for a responsive audience: wayfaring cattle.

Kulning was a surefire way to hurry the herds home at the end of the day.“

Susanne Rosenberg, Professor of folk singing at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH), head of Department of Folk Music and member of the Academy of Music is an expert on kulning. She has been a pioneer in both rediscovering the older Swedish style of traditional singing, as well as using it in new artistic environments, involving cooperation with Sweden’s foremost contemporary composers.

Accoding to her research “the vocal technique likely dates back to at least the medieval era. In the spring, farmers sent their livestock to a small fäbod, or remote, temporary settlement in the mountains, so cows and goats could graze freely. Women, young and old, accompanied the herds, living in relative isolation from late May until early October. Far from the village, they tended to the animals, knitted, crafted whisks and brooms, milked the cows, and made cheese—often working sixteen hour days. Life on the fäbod was arduous work, but it was freeing, too.” Women alone, making a lot of noise. My good mood continues.

Not that I dare to scream out like that – the birding community on Sauvie would declare me finally mad rather than a wizard woman of the Northwest….

But even swans have been seen to respond to kulning – unless they approach you hoping for breadcrumbs.

Jonna Jinton, in the link attached above, is currently riding the wave, and making pretty you-tube videos re-introducing the ancient art.

The serious music, combining old and new, can be found below. It’ll preserve the good mood for the entire day, even if I see the first snowflakes mixed with icy rain when looking out of my window.

Photographs are from Sauvie 5 days ago.