Sami Music, Eurovision and Slow TV

Elin and The Woods - NOT the Norway Eurovision entry

Yes, it's Eurovision time again! Something we love on The Slow TV Blog is Eurovision and Slow TV. Slow TV can last for ages and I'm sure some must feel Eurovision goes on for a very long time, too.

I got rather excited by a track in advance of last year's contest which fitted the Slow TV ethos perfectly, and Norway's entry last year, which starts very promisingly but, if I may be so bold, really got the idea of editing pace and slowness in music very wrong.

Norway recently had a very long Slow TV broadcast of reindeer migration, which was guided by a Sami family of reindeer herders. Sami identity, heritage and culture were celebrated by the Slow TV broadcast which played exclusively Sami music, besides times of just the ambient background sounds of the epic journey.

The woods!! Photo by Jenny Østgård #elinandthewoods #firststepinfaith #mgp17 #nrkmgp

A post shared by Elin & The Woods (@elinandthewoods) on Apr 20, 2017 at 10:53am PDT

Now, Norway nearly had a Sami Eurovision entry, Elin and The Woods with First Step in Faith - which I thought during the selection process would have been the perfect partner for being promoted during the Slow TV broadcast, knowing the reindeer migration would finish a couple weeks before the Eurovision Song Contest. Some previous Eurovision winners have had extensive media coverage before going on to win... 

The sight of a woman with horns while singing, for the most part, a joik, would have perhaps given the entry that different look and sound, which (if, and that's a big rhetorical if, the political block-voting can be out-gamed) could have given Norway a distinct edge in the contest. Looking down the comments on the YouTube video of it for Melodi Grand Prix, I'm not alone in thinking that.

Elin and The Woods have a new single out today (10th May), to follow them on Spotify, go here.

New single coming up! 10th of may! A tribute to Elin's homeland Sápmi (Land where the Sami people live). We love it! photo by Heidi Nilima Monsen 😍 #sápmi #singlerealease #cover #electrojoik

A post shared by Elin & The Woods (@elinandthewoods) on May 3, 2017 at 10:44am PDT

It wasn't the first time Sami music had featured in Norwegian Slow TV - a Sami choir (Samisk sanggruppe / Sámi lavlunjoavku) also featured in Slow TV in 2014 during the 3 day sing through of the entire Norwegian hymn book, Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt, their performances can be seen here.

Music from Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt - Reindeer Migration Minute by Minute can be explored through playlists such as here and also here.

The video of Elin and The Woods performing First Step in Faith on the Melodi Grand Prix in Norway - the Eurovision selection process.

I've previously touched on Sami culture on The Slow TV Blog, on Sami National Day, 6th February - more on that here.

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog


10 Things to Do after Reinflytting - Reindeer Migration Slow TV

Courtesy NRK - and thankyou, too.

So what now? It's over.

Here are 10 things to do with your life now Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt Slow TV - The Reindeer Migration has finished.


1) Watch the end of Monty Python and The Holy Grail to get a bit more of that disappointment out of your system. About sums it up.

2) Watch the end of Wayne's World to fantasise about the possible endings for Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt. Except the villain in this case is the pesky weather. Or that everyone finishes holding hands on Kvaløya on a glorious sunny day with "I'd Like to to teach the world to sing", or should that be, "I'd like to teach the world to yoik".

Imagine the reindeer-swimming ending? The reindeer using the bridge but not getting so savvy they don't use it to get back ending? The barge ending?

3) If you can't imagine the swimming ending, watch this marvellous BBC Earth footage of reindeer swimming:

4) Explore and watch the recorded entirety of Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt via NRK's official platform, no geo-blocking there.

5) Get exploring the vast wealth of Sami music on the curated playlists from NRK, see Spotify (direct link) or NRK page.

6) Play this beautiful, soothing, epic long-form piece of Sami music from Nils-Aslak Valkeapää which is one of my highlights of the week. Over 30 minutes of ambient style but very authentically Sami music. Works for me on many levels and, perfectly embraces many of the criteria of Slow TV and bridges and blurs most beautifully the boundaries between Slow TV and Ambient TV. What a trip!

 

7) Understand that even with near three years of pre-production, aberrant weather will skew even the best laid plans. This was a massive production, the weather's turns and knock-on effects on reindeer grazing can not be outwitted. Health and safety of the animals (and of people) is paramount. More from Aftenposten HERE and from NRK HERE about reasons and problems which affected the broadcast. Hat's off guys and gals, this was a week of exceptional TV. Here's to a few learning opportunities along the way!

8) Anticipate the next big Slow TV project. We're overdue a 12 hour production from the USA. I'm increasingly thinking it's off the cards but knowing that a big amount of pre-production went into it, I'm hoping it's just on pause.

One to expect, maybe from next year onwards, is a live Slow TV rock climb of the 1km sheer Troll Wall (Trollveggen) which has been in pre-production for several years. Really have got to get the health and safety right on that one.
Information based Slow TV in October, a 500 minute lecture on 500 years since Martin Luther's theses, leading to the Protestant Reformation. Here's an interview with a couple of the producers of Norwegian Slow TV:

9) Check out some of the Slow TV (or Slow TV-style, depending on your point of view) streams around the web. If you need to keep it in Norway with wildlife and nature, do see Zooom. Otherwise, I enjoy checking out the tram on the streets of Prague in the Czech Republic. I like that one late at night, with wet streets, lights reflecting and Baroque classical music playing.

10) Explore and keep coming back to The Slow TV Blog! 

Since studying Norwegian Slow TV for my Masters Degree (I made a documentary about Slow TV, see it on Vimeo) I've been approached for interviews in media in the UK and abroad and contacted by people studying Slow TV, from UK AS-Level Media Studies, through to Bachelor of Arts Degrees and Masters.  Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

I have interviews, little features, pictures, memes, all sorts. Including Cats and Dogs watching Slow TV.

My life with Slow TV isn't done yet, by far. So if you like Slow TV, keep coming back here, tweeting, instagraming or even join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group".

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 6
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Dogs watching Reinflytting - Reindeer Migration

Not to be outdone, dogs, besides cats, have also been watching the reindeer migration; here are a few selected examples!

Cosy TV - Koselig TV

. @genjishi følger med på #nrkrein 🐶

A post shared by Morten Formo (@zbegra) on Apr 25, 2017 at 12:13pm PDT

Self-realisation:

That moment you realize who you are🦌🐕🌲❄️ #reinflytting #reinflyttingminuttforminutt #nrkrein

A post shared by 🐕Winners Teams Happy (Kiara) (@kiara.flh) on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:57am PDT

Compulsive viewing:

Selv en liten hund følger forundret og nysgjerrig med på på #nrkrein Reinflyttinga er visst litt fascinerende for både folk og dyr!😀

A post shared by Vivian Masternes (@vivianmasternes) on Apr 25, 2017 at 1:01pm PDT

I wish I was there:

Hunden min Mira følger spent med på reinflyttning. 😊😃 #nrk #nrkrein #reinflyttingminuttforminutt #finnmark #øksfjord #nordnorge #reindear #norway #norge #nrkfinnmark #hund #slowtv #finnmarksvidda

A post shared by June C. Pedersen (@june_cecilie) on Apr 26, 2017 at 2:51pm PDT

The role model:

#nrkrein

A post shared by Jan helmer olsen (@janhelmer) on Apr 28, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

It might be Slow TV, but it keeps my attention:

I might be a little bit #sami dog - I really enjoy watching reindeer herding #nrkrein #tvdog #englishmastiff

A post shared by Emil the English Mastiff (@emil.the.english.mastiff) on Apr 28, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

Do you have pictures or videos of your cat or dog watching Slow TV? Get in touch! You can email me here at The Slow TV Blog.

Want to get in touch?

Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch my documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 6
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 6

Courtesy NRK - Migrating requires a lot of resting, too, it seems

OK, it's Sunday morning, we've been with the reindeer since Monday evening, Minute by Minute, but could it be the end is in sight?

Having spent a little time looking at the map of distance covered against distance remaining, and assuming current speed remains the same, I reckon it would conclude Tuesday or Wednesday. But, now, here's an element of peril.

Might the broadcast terminate before journey's end? There has been a rumour that it might finish Monday afternoon, wherever the reindeer are. This is very alarming. Firstly, there have been moments, many moments, of sustained beauty and marvel during this broadcast - so obviously that would mean it would end. Which we're expecting at some point anyway.

Secondly, it would mean the narrative is truncated and we would miss the epic swim to the summer pastures. If it were a book, it would be tearing out the last chapter. As someone who studies Slow TV, and maintains that the Norwegian format is a long-form story or documentary, the story would go uncompleted.

Only time will tell. Only time.

Now, I must confess to having gotten a little bored during Friday and Saturday. This has been the slowest Slow TV. Significant periods of relative inactivity, repeated and similar in content.

However, the periods of boredom have been interrupted by something which may not have been so rewarding had I not become bored. Three random skiers out in the wilderness. The lowering sun. A smaller group of reindeer trotting along and spontaneously, unanimously stopping. That was so funny.

Katten forbereder seg på en lang kveld 😻🌅 #nrkrein #vindutilvidda #minuttforminutt #finnmark #saktetv #slowtv #mindfulness #katteliv #catlife

A post shared by Elisabeth Botilsrud (@epbotil) on Apr 29, 2017 at 12:43pm PDT

Perhaps my wife had something to do with it. She put the idea it was boring in my head. She came in to where I have the laptop linked to the TV and sat nearby, in her best counselor's voice, "Are you still watching the reindeer? Isn't it all the same now". I fumbled for a reasoned response but I reckon I justified it. In her defense, she has understood and supported my love of Slow TV. Massively.

Perhaps this being slower than before, at times feeling like a very high quality webcam production, explains why there is a little less media interest. (Check out Zooom in Norway for an independent wildlife and northern lights webcam site).

The UK's Guardian newspaper picked up on Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt, but what of the rest of the world's media? Earlier in April the networks were very interested but I've detected relatively little activity since. The official chat and twitter has been very busy, especially with a lot of interest from Scandinavia.

Courtesy NRK, thanks to Richard in Slow TV Fans Facebook Group

Much on NRK and Sami media about the reindeer migration. An insight into generational family activity of reindeer herding here is insightful.

Anyway, I will stay with  NRKrein through to its end, insofar as possible. To have a major media live stream bringing images of beauty and marvel instead of the intravenous drip-feed of horror and distress of rolling news coverage is a welcome medicine. There is a lot of glorious wonder in our world and, one of the reasons I love Slow TV, is that it helps address that toxic imbalance in our viewing and consequent emotions.

Want to get in touch?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch my documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Reindeer Migration Slow TV - Interview with the Producers

This is from an audio interview with Thomas Hellum and Rune Møklebust of NRK Hordaland and producers of Slow TV, catching up with Slow TV events in 2016, some of the conceptualising around Slow TV and exciting Slow TV plans in Norway for 2017.

This is a linked playlist of four short segments, 
all about #NRKrein, Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5

Courtesy NRK - Sunset on Day Two of NRKrein

Well, things got moving yesterday! I checked back through Tuesday and saw the reindeer calmly (most of the time) being mellow in the snow, foraging, a little bit of rutting, and then almost suddenly (by Slow TV standards) the reindeer were being herded and off we went! Fantastic. Fine example of delayed gratification at work!

These times of 'not much' happening invests greater meaning to ordinary activities - something which Slow TV does well as some may argue that a lot of it is 'boring'.

Slow TV carries with it some innate concepts which mark it out from other forms of TV; let me introduce you to two - 

Eigenzeit:

Why does #SlowTV work so well? Let me introduce you to #Eigenzeit - #nrkrein #ReindeerMigration #reinflytting #reinflokk #Finnmark

A post shared by Tim Prevett (@the_slow_tv_blogger) on Apr 26, 2017 at 2:33am PDT

and

Tempo Giusto

#NRKrein runs (or not!) with the right pace for the #reindeer. Let me introduce you to the concept of #TempoGiusto another important innate part of #SlowTV #ReindeerMigration #reinflytting #reinflokk #Finnmark

A post shared by Tim Prevett (@the_slow_tv_blogger) on Apr 26, 2017 at 2:49am PDT

Sad drama overnight as one of the pregnant cows miscarried. You can see the clip of this right here on the NRK Website. There are further updates from NRK via NRK Sápmi and NRK Natur which act as hubs for a number of links and videos back to the main NRK Website.

The start of the migration was delayed; this was due to conditions in the snow; you can see just how late the snow is in thawing on the Finnmarks Plateau - see the Northern Research Institute's page which has been helping inform the production.

One of the NRKrein production team has been sharing a pictures and short Facebook Live livestreams via his own Facebook Page.

Where are you watching the reindeer migration from? When it was first announced, there was a lot of global media attention (see the list below). For the moment it has gone quiet!

5th April
Norway - NRK (Norwegian)

6th April
Germany - Greenpeace Magazine (German)
France - Sciences et Avenir (French)
Belgium - RTBF (French)
Luxembourg - Le Quotidien - (French)
France - France TV Info (French)

7th April
Luxembourg - Luxemburger Wort (English)
Norway - The Local (English)
United States - Daily News (English)
Singapore - Today Online (English)
Canada - CTV News (English)
Malaysia - Malay Mail Online (English)
Canada - Digital Journal (English)

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Lots more to come about #NRKrein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4

Courtesy NRK - Northern Lights and Reindeer Migration

Watch the Reindeer Migration Slow TV here: www.nrk.no/rein 

Welcome to the fourth brief round-up of media and links for the NRK Slow TV Reindeer Migration now that it is finally underway! Well, albeit in the same spot for 21 hours.

What has happened so far? Short clip from Instagram:

A quick summary of 21 hours of #nrkrein leave a comment and also see The Slow TV Blog. How are you finding it? Watch it on nrk.no/rein #SlowTV #SakteTV #reinflytting #reinflokk #ReindeerMigration

A post shared by Tim Prevett (@the_slow_tv_blogger) on Apr 25, 2017 at 7:48am PDT

A couple reflections on wider tangents of the week-long production:

The change in the length of day and shortness of night during the week of broadcast is an amazing thing, testimony to the Earth's wobble as the tilt accelerates the Arctic Circle towards the midnight sun from mid May and the Midsummer Solstice in later June. 

The sun rose around  03:28 this morning in Karasjok, sets 21:07 tonight, rises 03:22 on the 26th. Each day will be around 10 minutes longer, by the time the sun sets about 21:43 on 2nd May - when we anticipate the migration to conclude, the night will be 72 minutes shorter

ENVIRONTMENTAL CONCERNS and REINDEER HEALTH

There are large environmental concerns for reindeer at the moment; one is that the arctic is becoming too (relatively) hot - more here at phys.org


There has also been a case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a reindeer (similar to BSE in cows) further south in Norway, which gives cause for concern. More on The Local 

On Twitter, also see @ReindeerHerding 
On Facebook, The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandy
The Reindeer Centre website

Two links picked up in the press yesterday:
10 Facts about Reindeer Migration Minute by Minute
and
Barents Observer about the production

The production caravan gumpi-train rides out for broadcast start:

#nrkrein

A post shared by Tor Even Mathisen (@tittentem) on Apr 24, 2017 at 9:54am PDT

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Lots more to come about #NRKrein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2

NRK Logo for the Broadcast (Sami version with next update)

Woh there, Santa! Hold the reins, Rudolph! OK, it's a bit like Christmas being delayed. Well it is if you've been looking forward to this week-long reindeer migration Slow TV as much as I have.

The reindeer can't depart just yet as due to the cold Easter (even with it being a very late Easter) the snow is still too thick; it needs to melt more so the reindeer are able to forage along the way and also when they reach their destination. We don't want hungry reindeer!

At the moment, the earliest Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt can start is Monday evening 24th April - so, The Slow TV Blogger will be monitoring for signs of mission-start throughout this weekend. At the moment, it looks like 19:00 Norway time, so 18:00 UK time, 13:00 US East Coast, 10:00 US West Coast. This could change! See the NRK TV Guide.

In order to get a little more in the mood, there is a 12 minute trailer / prologue to the Reindeer Migration Slow TV - right here - and there are some great behind the scenes photos going up on Instagram from

• NRK Producer, Thomas Hellum
• NRK Presenter, Rebecca Strand
• Northern Norway photographer, Jan Helmer
• Freelance Cameraman, Tor Even Mathisen

See also here on the NRK website for news.

Reinflytting minutt for minutt! #nrkrein #nrk #nrksapmi

A post shared by Tor Even Mathisen (@tittentem) on Apr 20, 2017 at 10:50am PDT

Read about Norwegian choir, Cantus' new album (the choir sung in Frozen)

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Lots more to come about #NRKRein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Reindeer Slow TV - Cineflex Camera Scooter

#nrkrein. Kamera scooteren som skal følge reinflyttingen minutt for minutt.

A post shared by Jan helmer olsen (@janhelmer) on Apr 21, 2017 at 1:56pm PDT

Not just a camera on a scooter, but a Cineflex camera - able to catch very high quality images from over a kilometre away. Used by military, this can give stunning shots for whatever visual information is required. It serves Norwegian Slow TV perfectly for magnificent distant shots and a zoom like no other. (That sounds like an advert!)

Embedded Instagram picture from Northern Norway photographer www.Janhelmerolsen.com

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog