What is a Hardanger fiddle?

The Hardanger fiddle (in Norwegian, hardingfele) is often called the national instrument of Norway. It is similar to the violin and each one is a handmade work of art. A typical hardingfele is beautifully decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay and black pen-and-ink drawings, called rosing. It is topped with a carved head of a maiden (see photo below) or, more frequently, of an animal, usually a lion. Its most distinguishing feature is the four or five sympathetic strings that run underneath the fingerboard and add echoing overtones to the sound.

Photo of hardingfele pegbox by S. R. H. Spicer. Hardingfele by Olav Lomundal, Hoston Orkdal, Norway, 1966. Courtesy of National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota. Used by permission.

Researchers in hardingfele music have notated over 1,000 distinct tunes, or slåttar, for the instrument. Each tune has a history and lineage, transmitted as carefully as the tune itself. The folklore surrounding the music has also been handed down for generations. Stories abound of the prowess of particular fiddlers or dancers, of the connection of fiddling with the supernatural, and of the joys and sorrows of everyday life, all connected with the music of the Hardanger fiddle in a living web.

The primary purpose of the hardingfele is to be played for listeners, but especially for dancers. Hardingfeler can be played for gammaldans (waltz, reinlender/schottis, pols, etc.), but are most associated with Norwegian bygdedans (regional dances) such as springar and gangar. These dances are found in areas such as Hallingdal, Telemark, Setesdal, Valdres, and on the west coast of Norway in Voss, Jølster, and Sogn.

We invite you to listen to audio selections of Hardanger fiddle music.