Hardanger Fiddle — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Hardanger FiddleType: instrumentA richly decorated Norwegian fiddle with sympathetic understrings, producing a resonant, shimmering tone central to Norwegian folk music traditions.## History The Hardanger fiddle (hardingfele in Norwegian) is the traditional folk instrument of western and southern Norway, with origins dating to the mid-17th century. The instrument takes its name from the Hardanger region of western Norway, though its exact origins are debated. The oldest known Hardanger fiddle, the "Jaastad fiddle," dates from approximately 1651. The instrument was central to Norwegian rural culture, providing music for weddings, dances, and seasonal celebrations. Hardanger fiddle music was so closely tied to rural Norwegian identity that it survived the Romantic nationalist movement of the 19th century as a symbol of Norwegian cultural heritage. The instrument and its repertoire were inscribed on Norway's national heritage list and remain actively performed today. ## Construction The Hardanger fiddle resembles a violin but with several distinctive features. The body is slightly shorter and narrower than a standard violin, with a thinner, more arched top. The most striking structural difference is the set of four or five sympathetic strings (understrings) that run beneath the fingerboard and through holes in the bridge, resonating in sympathy with the bowed strings above. The four main playing strings are tuned to various scordatura (non-standard) tunings depending on the specific tune being played. The instrument is lavishly decorated with black ink (pen) drawings of rosemaling patterns on the body, an ornately carved pegbox (often featuring a dragon…