How much is a Hardanger fiddle worth?
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How much is a Hardanger fiddle worth?
Anything less than $1200 or so is likely to be junk. Old fiddles with desirable playing qualities made by master craftsman can cost much more. The very highest prices are probably in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. There are no Strad- or Guarneri-equivalent Hardanger fiddles selling for millions.
How old is the Hardanger fiddle?
Hardanger fiddle, also called Harding fiddle, Norwegian hardingfele, or hardingfela, regional fiddle of western Norway, invented in the late 17th century. It has four bowed strings positioned above four or five metal sympathetic strings.
When was the Hardanger fiddle invented?
The earliest known example of the hardingfele is from 1651, made by Ole Jonsen Jaastad in Hardanger, Norway. Originally, the instrument had a rounder, narrower body….Hardanger fiddle.
| Classification | Bowed string instrument |
| Related instruments | |
|---|---|
| Fiddle Violin |
What you should know about the Hardanger fiddle?
Well, it’s a Hardanger fiddle (hardingfele in Norwegian). The instrument originated in the area around the Hardanger fjord, whence its name. It is distinctly Norwegian; in fact, it is played in only about a quarter of Norway, the western and south-central areas. The oldest instrument found has a date of 1651.
What instrument is the Rohan theme?
the Hardanger fiddle
Traditionally used to play Norwegian folk repertoire, the Hardanger fiddle gained international fame when played in the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings, providing the main voice for the Rohan theme.
What is Hardanger music?
It is a Norwegian folk song, “The Lost Sheep.” To truly understand what has made the Hardanger synonymous with the sound of Norway, listen in the video below to hear one of the country’s most famous Hardanger (or hardingfele) players, Annbjørg Lien, coax out the same tune on this most unusual violin.
How does a Hardanger fiddle work?
Since Hardanger fiddles usually have four or five resonating understrings, the pegbox is longer. The bottom strings run under the fingerboard, which is carved out on the underside, and the bridge has a cutout for the understrings, which are tightened on hooks at the tailpiece.
Why is the hardingfele so important to Norway?
Later, a fiddler explains why the instrument was so important in rural Norway: “Hardingfele tunes once measured everyday life. Music was deeply rooted in rituals and traditions. There were specific tunes for every aspect of a Hardanger wedding.
What did real Viking music sound like?
Viking Music in the Literary Record Arab writers such as at-Tartushi and ibn Fadlān describe qualities and contexts for Germanic singing: that it sounded like “a humming coming from their throats,” and was used during funerary rites, respectively.
