Hardingfele
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A Hardanger fiddle or hardingfele (Norwegian) is a traditional stringed instrument from Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, but typically with thinner wood. It is different enough that a luthier accustomed to repairing violins could easily ruin a hardingfele. The instrument typically has eight or nine strings; four are played like a violin, while the rest (aptly named sympathetic strings) resonate under the influence of the other four, providing a pleasant continuous sound environment for the tune.
The earliest known example of the hardingfele is from 1651, made by Ole Jonsen Jaastad in Hardanger, Norway. Originally, the instrument's appearance was significantly different. Around the year 1850, the modern layout with a body much like the violin became the norm.
The instrument is a work of art, with a carved animal or a carved woman's head as part of the scroll at the top of the pegbox, extensive mother of pearl inlay on the tailpiece and fingerboard, 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. The four or five other strings, which are not bowed, run under the fingerboard and vibrate sympathetically, giving the instrument a haunting, echo-like sound.
Standard musical notation are rarely used by the traditional players. But to preserve the music, and to get classical players to play Norwegian music, there were people who systematically transcribed tunes. They used a system where the notes corresponded to the fingering on the instrument rather than to absolute pitch. It is said that the very best players in Norway don't read music, but learn tunes by ear. In later years, however, some fiddlers use manuscripts as a kind of "second-hand" source, for refreshing their memories.
The Hardingfele is used mainly in the south west part of Norway, whereas the ordinary violin (called 'flatfele' - 'flat fiddle' or 'vanlig fele' - 'common fiddle') is found elsewhere. The Hardingfele is used for dancing, accompanied by rhythmic loud foot stomping. It was also traditional for the fiddler to lead the bridal procession to the church.
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[edit] Tunings
The instrument is tuned higher than a violin, because it sounds better in a higher range. The 'A' on the hardingfele corresponds to B flat or higher on a standard piano. The notes given below for tunings are therefore relative to the A on the Hardingfele, not to A equal to 440 hertz. The player will try to tune their instrument into the range where it sounds best. As you can imagine, tuning 8 or 9 strings can take some time, especially if two or more fiddlers are trying to play together. The patience of Norwegian audiences is legendary in this regard.
Most hardanger tunes are played in a common tuning (A-D-A-E). Another tuning is called "troll tuning" (A-E-A-C#). Troll tuning is used for the 'fanitullen' tunes, also called the devil's tunes. Legend had it that the fiddler learned these tunes from the devil. This tuning limits the melodic range of the tunes, and is therefore sparsely used. In Valdres, 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. It can also be played in "low base" (G-D-A-E), which resembles the normal violin tuning. In certain regions the "Gorrolaus" (F-D-A-E) tuning is sometimes used. In Norway as such, about 40 different tunings are recorded.
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 is largely depended on the region in which the instrument is being played, or the requirements of a particular tune.
[edit] Technique
The technique of bowing a Hardingfele is different from violin technique. 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 strings of the fiddle are slimmer than those of the violin, and resembles rather the strings of violins from the baroque period. Thus, a fiddler who changes instruments has to adapt his style.
Tunes and techniques of playing differ a great deal between different regions in Norway. This is probably because Norway consists of a series of valleys separated by mountains, and communities were isolated from each other in the past.
[edit] Controversy
The hardanger fiddle and its music was, and perhaps still is, associated with the devil. The Church banned these intruments and the players from entering the churches. They also went to the extent to eradicate by fire an extensive number of fiddles. The tradition in Norway has had a deep impact because of this, since folk music was not well respected in areas where christianity was deeply rooted. Areas were christianity was not deeply rooted has kept a strong tradition, and that's where the old technique and tunes are still in practise.
It was also believed that some were taught to play by the fossegrim.
[edit] Influences
Edvard Grieg adapted many Hardanger folk tunes into his compositions, and composed tunes for the Hardanger as part of his score for Ibsen's Peer Gynt. For example, it is widely believed that the opening phrase of "Morning" from Grieg's Peer Gynt music is derived from the tuning of the sympathetic strings of the Hardanger fiddle: A F# E D E F# and so on. The main theme from Grieg`s piano concerto is said to be inspired of a version of the tune Fanitullen, played by a fiddler from Hallingdal.
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.
[edit] Use in film
The Hardanger fiddle was used in the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King composed by Howard Shore, to provide the main voice for the Rohan theme. 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.
The Hardanger fiddle also features in the soundtrack of Fargo, written by Carter Burwell. Here the context is a little more traditional. The main theme it plays is an arrangement of a Norwegian folksong entitled "The Lost Sheep". In the Japanese animated movie Tales from Earthsea it is played by Rio Yamase.
[edit] Players
Some notable hardingfele players include:
- Myllarguten
- Hallvard T. Bjørgum
- Torleiv H. Bjørgum
- Knut Buen
- Hauk Buen
- Vidar Lande
- Annbjørg Lien
- Andrea Een
- Olav Jørgen Hegge
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
