I want a hardingfele!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

This girl is terrific:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ioX9-UGboc&feature=related

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Well I think it's cool, anyway...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. tweaking because someone out there will like this...

[Bake]

3. Looks like it was designed by a banjo player!

With all the pearl and stuff. We call that inlay pattern "Hearts & Flowers."

Very cool.

Bake

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. They're all like that...

It's the Norwegian tradition... :hi:

[Bake]

5. As a recovering pearl addict, I like it!

OK, actually I'm not recovering ... I love all the inlays on this instrument!!

Bake

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. I think it's beautiful!

Did you listen to the Youtube? The girl really brings the fiddle to life!

[Bake]

7. No YouTube at work, but I'll check it out tonight.

I thought the instrument looked familiar, and it is apparently also called a Hardanger, which is the term I was familiar with. It has four standard strings that are played/bowed, and the rest vibrate sympathetically. How cool.

I want to say that Vassar Clements, the great bluegrass and "hillbilly jazz" fiddler, at one time played a four-string Hardanger, but I can't find any verification of that so far.

Bake

[tigereye]

16. I was just thinking Swedish - the inlays are like ones I saw on the Antiques

Road Show one time... something Scandinavian

[greendog]

8. She's really good!

Years ago, I saw Grey Larsen, who's better known as an Irish Flute player, play a Hardanger. I looked around on the net but all I could find was an NPR recording of him playing a conventional fiddle.

This morning, by chance, I came across this youtube of Robin Williamson scratching out a tune on one. He's a pretty good Scottish folk harpist and a great singer if you're not familiar with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxHvlZTAuo&feature=related

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. A lot of the youtubes I've found

are performed by folks with a kind of scratchy tone. I don't mind a little edge to the sound; but I couldn't help wondering if they were using fiberglass hair on their bows or something.

I notice Williamson uses a regular violin bow, and he has more substance to his sound than many of them. Thanks for the link! :hi:

[marzipanni]

9. YouTube says "We're sorry, this video is no longer available"

So I watched/listened to this one by Annbjorg Lien- is it the same as the one you linked to?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ioX9-UGboc&feature=related

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. It doesn't say that now...

...and yes, it's the same link. How odd!

[eyepaddle]

12. The video is gone now, but I knew it was Annbjorg Lien as soon as I saw the word

"Hardangfele."

It is such a rich sounding instrument. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. I wonder why some can't see it...

I have no problem with the link. :shrug:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ioX9-UGboc&feature=related

[eyepaddle]

14. Hmm, it worked that time, and it was well worth the effort--

not that that surprises me or anything! :)

What do you think of the Nykellharpa? (Which Annbjorg plays on at least one of these youtube clips.)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. That's an amazing critter too!

Here's the first movement of JS Bach's Cello Suite #1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3aUCM8BX8

[trof]

15. Dang! A 9 string fiddle? More:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardingfele

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. The tuning bit could be complex...

Either the hardingfele player has to transpose everything down a half step or the rest of the folks in the band have to transpose up a half step.

[RevolutionaryActs]

18. She's amazing.

And that is a beautiful fiddle. :D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Glad you like!