The Helland fiddle maker family

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The Helland family from Bø in Telemark is a Norwegian dynasty of Hardanger fiddle makers who made the most significant and important contribution to the development of the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle tradition. The celebrated Norwegian fiddler Ole Bull played on Helland fiddles.

During nearly 200 years and 4 generations the family counted 14 fiddle makers. Many of them among the most important in the fiddlemaker tradition in Norway. It may well be the largest fiddle maker family in history.

Contents 1 From Bø in Telemark to Notodden, Skien and Wisconsin 2 The family 1790-1977 3 Sources, all in Norwegian 4 External links

[edit] From Bø in Telemark to Notodden, Skien and Wisconsin

Olav Gunnarson Helland settled in Notodden, Telemark, Norway in 1896 and established a Hardanger fiddle workshop. His fiddles are considered among the finest within the tradition.

Knut Gunnarsson Helland and Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland emigrated to US in 1901 and settled in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where they became well known ski jumpers. The opened a fiddle workshop, “Helland Brothers” together. Knut died in 1920 and his brother Gunnar continued the business until 1927.

John Gunnarson Helland settled in Skien, Telemark, Norway and ran a workshop and a music shop until his death in 1977.

The other fiddlemakers continued their work in Bø until the last, Knut Knutsson Steintjønndalen died in 1969.

[edit] The family 1790-1977

Note on Norwegian names: The second link reads Jons son (i.e. The son of Jon), or Eriks daughter. The third link is a family name, derived from the farm where they lived, or origined form.

• Jon Eriksson Helland (1790 – 1862)
  • Erik Jonsson Helland (1816 – 1868)
    • Jon Eriksson Helland II (1849 – 1869)
    • Knut Eriksson Helland (1851 – 1880)
    • Gunnhild Eriksdatter Helland (1851 – 1907) married Gunnar Olavsson Helland (1852 –1938). Gunnar took family name from the farm he got by marriage
      • Olav Gunnarsson Helland (1875 –1946)
      • Knut Gunnarsson Helland (1880 –1920)
      • Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland (1889 –1976)
      • John Gunnarsson Helland (1897 –1977)
  • Eilev Jonsson Steintjønndalen (1821 – 1876) - took family name of the farm he got by marriage
    • Jon Eilevsson Steintjønndalen (1845 – 1902)
    • Knut Eilevsson Steintjønndalen (1850 – 1902)
      • Knut Knutsson Steintjønndalen (1887-1969)
  • Gunleik Jonsson Helland (1828 – 1863)

[edit] Sources, all in Norwegian

• «Bø-Soga, 1 Kultursoga» (Bø Local history, volume 1 Cultural history).
• «Bø-Soga, 2 Gards og ættesoge, volume 4» (Bø Local history, volume 4 farm and family history).
• Steinar Kyvik: «Soga om fela» Fonna forlag, 1946. (The Story of the Fiddle)
• John Gunnarson Helland: «Felemakerslekten Helland» (Helland, the fiddle maker family) (1954). Private, short paper.
• Olav Gunnarsson Helland, letters
• Åsmund Nyhammer: «Hardingfele i fire slektledd.» («Hardanger fiddle in Four Generations) Article and intewiev in the newspaper Bergens Arbeiderblad Oct. 5. 1963
• Asbjørn Storesund: «Bøherad, hardingfelas Cremona» in «Spel og Dans» (The Bø region: The Cremona of the Hardanger Fiddle in play and dance) 1988 p. 57-71, Halvard Kaasa, editor.
• "Morgenbladet", Christiania, Thursday, July 15th, 1852

[edit] External links

• How old is the hardanger fiddle?
• The Helland fiddle maker family