Hardanger fiddle

Hardanger fiddle (Hardingfele)

Classification	Bowed string instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.322-71
Related instruments
Fiddle Violin

AHardanger fiddle(Norwegian:hardingfele) is a traditionalstringed instrumentconsidered to be the national instrument of Norway. In modern designs, this type offiddleis very similar to theviolin,though with eight or ninestrings(rather than four as on a standard violin) and thinnerwood.The earliest known example of thehardingfeleis from 1651, made by Ole Jonsen Jaastad inHardanger,Norway.Originally, the instrument had a rounder, narrower body.Around the year 1850, the modern layout with a body much like the violin became the norm.

TheF-holesof the Hardanger fiddle are distinctive, oftentimes with a more "sunken" appearance, and generally straighter edges (unlike the frilly, swirly F-holes of a violin). Four of the strings are strung and played like a violin, while the rest, named understrings orsympathetic strings,resonateunder the influence of the other four. These extra strings are tuned and secured with extra pegs at the top of the scroll, effectively doubling the length of a Hardingfele scroll when compared to a violin. The sympathetic strings, once fastened to their pegs, are funneled through a "hollow" constructed fingerboard, which is built differently than a violin's, being slightly higher and thicker to allow for these extra strings. The resonant strings lie on the center of the special bridge, attached to extra hooks (or fine-tuners) on the tailpiece. Carved out within the center of the bridge is a smaller secondary "bridge", or opening, designed specifically for these resonant strings to pass through. This is where the resonance is picked up and reverberated; as notes are played, the vibrations are sent through the bridge, where the sympathetics echo those notes.

The Hardingfele's bridge is unique compared to other bowed instruments. It is somewhat taller and wider, resulting in the strings being slightly lower and farther apart; this allows for the easy execution of double-stops (playing of two strings at once). A similar technique is seen in some American old-time and bluegrass fiddlers, who intentionally move their bridge back a few millimetres closer to the tailpiece, for better double-stops.

Thehardingfeleis used mainly in the southwest part of Norway, whereas the ordinary violin (calledflatfele,'flat fiddle', orvanlig fele,'common fiddle') is found elsewhere. Thehardingfeleis used for dancing, accompanied by rhythmic loud foot stomping. It was also traditional for the fiddler to lead the bridal procession to the church.

The instrument is often highly decorated, with a carved animal (usually adragonor theLion of Norway) or a carved woman's head as part of thescrollat the top of thepegbox,extensivemother of pearlinlayon thetailpieceandfingerboard,and black ink decorations called 'rosing' on the body of the instrument. Sometimes pieces of bone are used to decorate the pegs and the edges of the instrument.

Tunings

See also:Scordaturain folk music

Unlike the violin, thehardingfeleis atransposing instrument,meaning thatsheet musicfor thehardingfeleis written in a key other than the one in which the instrument sounds when it plays that music. Specifically, thehardingfeleis a D instrument,meaning that thehardingfele's writtenCcorresponds toDon a non-transposing instrument, such as thepiano.The notes given below for tunings are therefore relative to thehardingfele's written A, not to aconcert A.

The strings on ahardingfele

The understrings are tuned to vibrate according to the main tuning. For example, when the main strings are tuned A-D-A-E, the understrings are tuned B-D-E-F♯-A.The tuning largely depends on the region in which the instrument is being played, or the requirements of a particular tune.

In Norway, more than 20 different tunings are recorded.Most hardanger tunes are played in a common tuning (A-D-A-E). The hardanger fiddle can also be played in "low bass", the word "bass" referring to the lowest string, (G-D-A-E), the normal violin tuning. In certain regions the "Gorrlaus" (F-D-A-E) tuning is sometimes used. Many well-known players (such asAnnbjørg Lien) frequently employ E-scale tunings; i.e., instead of A-D-A-E, with tunes being mainly played in a D-scale, the instrument will be tuned to B-E-B-F#, so the tunes are mainly in an E-scale. Going higher still, the playerKnut Buenrecorded several albums in an F-scale tuning, C-F-C-G. This is possible only on a smaller-bodied instrument (such as a Hardanger fiddle), being rarely attempted on a standard full-sized violin. As a substitute, many fiddlers who play standard violins will simply tune their G string to A, using the A-D-A-E tuning, enabling them to play the same style of music.

Another tuning is called "trolltuning "(A-E-A-C♯). Troll tuning is used for thefanitullentunes, also called thedevil's tunes, as well as the tunes from theKivlemøyanesuite (thus associated with thehulderpeopleas well as the devil); in theValdresdistrict of Norway,using this particular tuning is called "greylighting", a reminder that the fiddler tuned his fiddle like this when the morning was near, and he had played himself through a number of other tunings.

Legend has itthat the fiddler learnedfanitullentunes from the devil. This tuning limits the melodic range of the tunes and is therefore sparsely used.

Technique

The technique of bowing ahardingfelealso differs from that used with a violin. It's a smoother, bouncier style of bowing, with a lighter touch. The player usually bows on two of the upper strings at a time, and sometimes three. This is made easy by the relative flatness of the bridge, unlike the more curved bridge on a violin. The objective is to create a continuous sound of two (or more due to the sympathetic understrings) pitches. The strings of the fiddle are slimmer than those of the violin, resembling the strings of violins from thebaroqueperiod. Many classically trained violinists use a baroque bow when playing thehardingfelein order to counteract the extra weight that classical violinists naturally place on the string.

Here is an example of technique shown by Rose Logan with an instrument held atSt Cecilia's Hall.

The Hardanger fiddle and religion

Thehardingfelehas had a long history with the Christian church. Well known early fiddle maker Isak Botnen is said to have learned some of his craft from church lay leader and school master Lars Klark, as well as the methods for varnishing from pastor Dedrik Muus.In many folktales the devil is associated with thehardingfele;in fact many good players were said to have been taught to play by the devil, if not by thenix.During religious revivals in the 19th century, many fiddles (regular and Hardanger)were destroyed or hidden both by fiddlers and laypeople who thought "that it would be best for the soul that the fiddles be burned", as it was viewed as a "sinful instrument that encouraged wild dances, drinking and fights."This happened in Norway, as well as other parts of Europe, and until the 20th century playing a Hardanger fiddle in a church building was forbidden.Some fiddlers, however, played on, in spite of all condemnation, and thus valuable traditions remained intact. The first folk musicians to perform in a church were the fiddlersJohannes DahlefromTinn,andGjermund HaugenfromNotodden.Dahle performed in the 1920s.

Known modern fiddlerAnnbjørg Lienhas played with church organist Iver Kleive,but even she has experienced prejudice before performance from the religious side.Also, the oldest known fiddles still in existence can be heard accompanied by the oldest playable church pipe organ in Norway (originally built for an 18th-century church) on the album "Rosa i Botnen"by Knut Hamre and Benedicte Maurseth.While the use of ahardingfelein church in Norway may still be a bit sensitive for some, fiddlers in other parts of the world have no problems playing in churches for all types of occasions, including weddings.

Influences

Edvard Griegadapted many Hardanger folk tunes into his compositions, and composed tunes for the Hardanger as part of his score forIbsen'sPeer GyntSuite No. 1. The opening phrase of "Morning"from Grieg'sPeer Gyntmusic is derived from the tuning of the sympathetic strings of the Hardanger fiddle: A F♯E D E F♯and so on.

In recent years, the instrument has gained recognition in the rest of the world. Japan has been one of the countries that has found an interest in the hardingfele and Japanese musicians travel to Norway just to learn to play this instrument. In 1997, the Australianclassical composerLiza Limwrote the piecePhiltrefor a solo Hardanger fiddle, and she also includes the instrument in her workWinding Bodies: 3 Knots(2013–14).Her string quartetThe Weaver's Knot(2013–14) is inspired by the sound and performance techniques of Hardanger fiddle playing. Another recent work is "mobius II" for hardanger fiddle and electronics by the British composer Rose Dodd (2011, premiered at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival by Britt Pernille Froholm).

Players

Notablehardingfeleplayers includeLillebjørn Nilsen,Knut Buen,Hauk Buen,Olav Jørgen Hegge,Annbjørg Lien,Sigrid Moldestad,Myllarguten(Targjei Augundsson),Lars Fykerud,Lars Jensen,Nils Økland,Tuva Syvertsen,Benedicte Maurseth,Anne Hytta,Gjermund Haugenand fiddlerKathryn Tickell,the Irish fiddlersCaoimhín Ó RaghallaighandMairéad Ní Mhaonaigh,and American playersLoretta Kelley,Andrea Een,Dan Truemanand the multi instrumentalistDavid Lindley.

In March 2010 Olav Luksengård Mjelva won theSpellemannprisenTraditional music/Norwegian folk category (the Norwegian equivalent of theGrammy Awards), for his albumFele/Hardingfele, Røros/Hallingdal.

Use in film

The Hardanger fiddle was used in thesoundtracksofThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,andThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingcomposed byHoward Shore,to provide the main voice for theRohantheme. The use of the Hardanger fiddle in this movie, however, is far from traditional since the theme does not make noticeable use of the usual practice of bowing on two strings at a time for harmony as well as the fact that the violinist used vibrato, which is not traditionally used since the slight variance in pitch interferes with the sympathetic resonance of the under-strings. It was also used by composer John Powell and played by Dermot Crehan in the DreamWorks filmHow to Train Your Dragonfor the main romantic theme.

The Hardanger fiddle is also featured in the soundtrack ofArmageddon(composed byTrevor Rabin), and inFargo(composed byCarter Burwell). In the latter, the context is a little more traditional—the main theme it plays is an arrangement of a Norwegian folk song entitled "The Lost Sheep".

Steven Van Zandtused the Hardanger fiddle in the theme song he wrote for the TV seriesLilyhammer.

In the Japanese animated movieTales from Earthseait is played byRio Yamase.

The Hardanger fiddle is featured in the soundtrack of the 2017 filmDunkirk,as well as the soundtrack for the 2021Lokiseries.

See also

• Låtfiol,a Swedish fiddle with two sympathetic strings
• Nyckelharpa
• Kontra
• Stroh violin(vioara cu goarnă)
• Rabeca
• Viola d'amore
• Swedish Double-decker,a Swedish fiddle with 4-8 sympathetic strings

References

• Aksdal, Bjørn, and Sven Nyhus. Fanitullen: Innføring i norsk og samisk folkemusikk. Oslo: Universitetsforlag.
• Broughton, Simon, and Mark Ellingham. Rough Guide to World Music Volume One: Africa, Europe & the Middle East. London: Penguin Books, 1999. 212-216.
• George, Patrice. "Knut Hamre and Benedicte Maurseth - Rosa I Botnen." RootsWorld. 26 Feb. 2008http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/botnen06.shtml
• Gurvin, Olav. 1958. Hardingfela. InHardingfeleslåttar,ed. Olav Gurvin. Norsk Folkemusikk, ser. 1 vol I. Oslo: Universitetsforslaget.
• Sandvik, Sverre. Vi Byggjer Hardingfele. Tiden, 1983. 12-13. English translation "(How) We Build the Hardanger Fiddle" by Eldon Ellingson

External links

• Hardanger Fiddle Association of America
• Fashioning the Hardanger Fiddle
• Hardingfeleverket--Norsk folkemusikk serie 1: Hardingfeleslåttar – i syv bind og Feleverket--Norsk folkemusikk serie 2: Slåtter for vanlig fele – i fire bind
• Hardanger Fiddle, Isak N. Botnen/Skår (Norwegian, 1669–1759) and Trond Isaksen Flatebø (Norwegian, 1713–1772) made in 1756
• Hardanger Fiddle, Norway, 1786
• Scordatura: The Dahle Tradition (Anne Svånaug Haugan. Etnisk Musikklubb: EM26)Archived2007-10-19 at theWayback Machine
• Andrea Hoag, Loretta Kelley, Charlie Pilzer
• hardanger fiddler Christian Borlaug