Svimeslått is one of several folk dances, all of them with humorous titles, originally written by Øystein Olsen Vadsten. Norwegian culture is the basis for these dances, both rhythmically and melodically. The accompaniment has brought this fun piece into the 21st Century.
When it comes to Svimeslått, it is the traditional dance halling that is the inspiration. Halling is a rather wild dance, where the man tries to win the heart of a lady by attempting to kick a hat off a stick, held up in the air. This is where The Battle of the Hats gets its distinctive name A truly Norwegian tradition.
The composer wanted to write a crazy melody, which highlights how knocked out a man can be by love, as he tries to win the chosen one´s heart.
To the conductor
It is of great importance to be very accurate with the given tempo and the rhythmical challenges in this piece. The percussion group must, together with the bass instruments, work hard to get the groove together throughout the piece. It is necessary to keep a certain drive forward, without changing the tempo. Please also pay attention to all the second time only -markings. They have to be played as written, to keep the variation effect alive. Good luck with your performance!