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| Decorah native Eden Ehm shares her Hardanger fiddle talent at a recent Nordic Fest |
Editor's Note: Eden Ehm, a Nordic Dancers Orchestra alum and graduate of the Hardanger fiddle program at St. Olaf College, was kind enough to share her expertise on the history of this beautiful piece of Nordic Fest music in today's guest post. More on Eden below. Thank you, Eden, for enhancing the Nordic Fest 50 blog!
Norway has a rich and strong tradition of unique music, dance, and
art that are all embodied in the Hardanger fiddle. The instrument's
significance and transition through time are why the Hardanger Fiddle is
considered representative of Norway's folk culture and is considered to be the folk
instrument of Norway. The artistry and craftsmanship of the fiddle maker,
fiddler, dancers, and events where the hardingfele is played create the
tradition that is the hardanger fiddle tradition.
Norway's musical tradition originated with folk tunes. Since
the first fiddle was created in the 1600's, these tunes have been passed from
teacher to student and between fiddlers, always learning the tunes directly
from others and by ear. This tradition of learning and created an aural
chain that remains unbroken today with fiddlers in Norway and America learning
the same favorite, old tunes and sharing new music. This rich tradition
links generations and continents together, creating a musical lineage among
fiddlers and a rich culture surrounding the instrument. Today,
hardingfele repertoire has expanded to include new folk tunes, tone poems, and
even concertos like the Tveitt Concertos.
Hardanger fiddle is also important in Norwegian culture because of
the events that the instrument is played for. Fiddlers, fiddles, and the
tunes they play were an important part of weddings, dance parties, and other
important events. While the fiddle was usually played solo, it gathered
communities together at these events. These traditions are kept alive
today in both Norway and in America, while also allowing new traditions emerge,
such as playing the hardingfele with others as part of a "lag" group
or with other folk instruments. Through time, the hardingfele has
continued to create a tight-knit community around its playing, dancing, or
simply enjoying the music and skills it takes to play the instrument.
The fiddles themselves are examples of Norwegian folk art.
The rosemaling-esque inking, shell and bone inlay, carved scroll head and pegs,
and overall fiddle design are unique to each maker. Each fiddle has its
own design, giving it its own personality and sound. Whether it is an
older fiddle or one made by a modern maker, they are treasured instruments to
the fiddler and overall Norwegian culture. Hardanger fiddles are pieces
of art, but that artistry is elevated when they become a working piece of art
when played.
In America, especially a Norwegian-American community like
Decorah, it is important to remember that hardanger fiddles came with
immigrants to become a part of the Norwegian culture in the US in the 1800s and
1900s. Learning, playing, and dancing to tunes continued in the new
world, and competitions, famous fiddlers like Ole Bull or Fykerud, and fiddle
groups and spellemannslags became popular during that time. The making of
new fiddles also continued by some makers in the US, namely the Helland
Brothers of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. As is common with immigrant
groups, with future generations the old traditions and interests died
out. However, in recent decades there has been a resurgence in interest
in folk music and dancing and the hardingfele has undergone a revival in the
United States.
More on Eden: A native of Decorah, Iowa, Eden Ehm grew up seeing beautiful
Hardanger fiddles in Vesterheim Museum displays but never dreamed she would
play one. Her interest in folk music and fiddling began during her seven
years as principal violinist of the Decorah Nordic Dancer's Orchestra.
Eden began studying the Hardanger fiddle in the prestigious Hardanger
fiddle program at St. Olaf College - the only school in the United States to
offer instruction and credit in this unique instrument. During her time
at St. Olaf, Eden had the opportunity to travel regionally and perform;
fiddling for King Harold and Queen Sonja of Norway in during their visit to the
Untied States in 2011 was a highlight.
A member of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (HFAA),
Eden enjoys attending workshops, camps, and learning new tunes from other
fiddlers. She is most often seen performing at Scandinavian
festivals such as Decorah's Nordic Fest, where she performed in 2012,
2013, and 2014. She hopes to one day travel to Norway to study Hardanger
fiddle.
In addition to
Hardanger fiddle, Eden has played violin since the age of five. She is
the concertmaster of the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra and a member of the
LaCrose Symphony Orchestra.
