The Hardanger Tradition

Program: #08-51   Air Date: Dec 08, 2008

These programs are made possible in part by support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

For more information about Norwegian cultural events in the United States or for travel and tourist information, you may consult:
www.norway.org

NOTE: Much has been written about this haunting national folk instrument--in a recent recording, Knut Hamre and Bendicite Maurseth perform on the earliest surviving original fiddles from Hardanger, using the 17th and early 18th century repertoire for which these instruments were built. We also hear speculative use of Norwegian fiddles in late medieval Norwegian music from the ensemble Kalenda Maya.

I. Benedicite. (CD and DVD on the Heilo label, CD number HCD 7206).

For more information:

www.grappa.no

Knut Hamre and Bendicite Maurseth, Hardanger fiddles
Sigbjorn Apeland, organ
Nils Okland, viola d'amore
Hakon Morch Stene, percussion

The various instrumental pieces are after Hardanger masters,
centering on Ole Jonsen Jaastad (1621-1694), Isak Nielsen Botnen (1669-1759)
and his son Trond Isaksen Flatebo (1713-1772).

--Elling Moelsters trollstilte, ganger (from Isak Nielsen Botnen)

--Vetla jento mi, springar (from Trond Isaksen Flatebo)

--Rull etter Severin Kjerlund (from Ole Jonsen Jaastad)

--Huldrespringer etter Ola Hastabo

--Springar etter Severin Kjerlund (from Ole Jonsen Jaastad)

--Huldreslatter etter Eirik Medas

--Brureslatt etter Magnus Botnen (from Isak Nielsen Botnen)

--Lydarskatt etter Ola Hastabo

--Springar etter Sjur Liland

--Rull etter Trygve Haeve

--Bruraslatt etter Ola Hastabo

II. Kalenda Maya: Norwegian Medieval Music (Kirkelig Kulturversted CD FXCD 82).

For more information: www.kkv.no

(click on "English" option on left of web site)

--Valivan (The tale of Knight Valivan, who disguises himself as a woman to abduct the maiden Margijt)

--Marie (A tale of Mary Magdalene, with the desert replaced by the green forests of Norway)

--Herre-Per og Gjodalin (Knightsong of the maiden Gjodalin, who seeks revenge on Master Per who betrayed her)

--Kong Gaud og Ungan Herredag (Young Herredag ventures to Gothland in Sweden to kill King Gaud and avenge his father's death)

--Villemann og Magnhild (The Nordic Orpheus story, as Magnhild is taken by a "Nokken" to the underworld)

--Lita Karin (The Nordic re-telling of the story of St. Catherine of Alexandria)

Composer Info

Ole Jonsen Jaastad (1621-1694), Isak Nielsen Botnen (1669-1759), Trond Isaksen Flatebo (1713-1772),

CD Info

CD number HCD 7206, Kirkelig Kulturversted CD FXCD 82