dråpevisa

Dråpevisa is a term used in Nordic folklore and ethnomusicology to describe a kind of short lyric song within the broader visa tradition of Swedish and Norwegian folk music. The exact scope of the term varies by source, and it is not a universally standardized category in musicology. In many usages the name implies a compact, emotionally focused piece that captures a fleeting moment or a fragment of nature.

Etymology and sense: The word dråpe translates roughly as “drop” or “tear” in the Scandinavian languages, and visa means “song” or “ballad.” Taken together, dråpevisa is often understood to contribute a small, intimate vignette—often about weather, sorrow, or daily life—delivered in a plain, direct idiom.

Form and performance: Dråpevisa typically appear as brief stanzas with a simple melodic line designed for easy singing. In practice they may be performed a cappella or with minimal accompaniment, such as a fiddle or guitar. They are commonly found in informal settings like homes, local gatherings, or traditional music circle contexts, and are frequently transmitted orally within communities.

Historical and regional context: References to dråpevisa appear in 19th- and 20th-century collections of Swedish and Norwegian folk songs. Some scholars treat it as a regional or informal subcategory of visa, rather than a fixed genre with a fixed repertoire. Consequently, the exact characteristics and boundaries of dråpevisa can vary among sources.

See also: visa, Nordic folk song, ballad. Note that in some sources dråpevisa overlaps with other short lyric forms and may be described with different labels in regional traditions.