gånglåt

Gånglåt is a term in Swedish folk music for a type of instrumental tune intended for walking or marching and for use during dances and processions. The name derives from "gå" (to walk) and "låt" (tune).

Character: Gånglåtar are usually short, eight to sixteen bars, and played in duple meter, most often 2/4 or 4/4, with a steady, marching pulse. The melodies are simple and memorable, designed to be easily repeated and varied; tunes often employ repeated sections (AABB) and characteristic stepwise motion. Ornamentation is common, including mordents, slides, and turns.

Usage and context: They are commonly played on fiddle, nyckelharpa, or other traditional instruments and may be performed solo or in small ensembles. They accompany social dancing, walking steps in processions, or serve as a bridge between other types of dance tunes, such as polskas. In many regions of Sweden, gånglåtar form part of the local repertoire and are collected in tunebooks.

Origins and distribution: Gånglåtar belong to the broader Swedish instrumental tradition that developed alongside polskas, polkas, and other dance tunes. They were especially common in rural communities and have been preserved by oral tradition and written collections, contributing to the regional flavor of Swedish folk music.

Contemporary status: Today gånglåtar remain an element of Swedish folk festivals and spelman communities. Musicians study older collections and also compose new gånglåtar in traditional styles, keeping the form active in modern folk practice.