Norse Fiddle: Learn More
Norse Fiddle - Hardanger Fiddle
The name "Norse Fiddle" is one that Karen Solgård gave the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle to better describe it for American audiences. Hardanger fiddle (hardingfele in Norwegian) is named for a district in Norway where it is thought to have originated. A bit different than a violin, it is considered Norway’s national instrument. Instead of a scroll as on a violin, a lion’s head sits atop the peg box. Black ink flowers and mother-of-pearl inlay decorate the instrument. It has eight strings, four of which are strung under the fingerboard and cannot be touched by the bow; the understrings resonate as the top four are played.
Karen Torkelson Solgård -
Fiddler, Singer, Story-teller
“Something about the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle compels me to make it accessible to American audiences. To make the beauty of the Hardanger fiddle better understood, I use familiar tunes and English verses to build Hardanger fiddle tunes, complete with asymmetric rhythm and ornamentation.”
CDs and Music Book
Karen Solgård has produced three CDs
“Norse Fiddle in Concert” NEW!
“Norse Fiddle at Home”
“Norse Fiddle at the Wedding”
and a music book
“Norse Fiddle at the Wedding for Hardanger fiddle or violin”
Click on "Listen" to hear samples.
Click "CDs & Music Book" or "Websites of Interest" to buy.
Karen's programs
Karen Solgård brings entertaining programs of Hardanger fiddle music and associated dances for community concert series, cultural groups and festivals around the country. Traditional Hardanger fiddle tunes are mixed with Karen’s own compositions and arrangements--classical favorites such as Grieg’s Morning and Bach’s Musette, the 1950 hit song The Thing, and American folk songs such as Simple Gifts, Yankee Doodle and Kentucky Babe.
Audiences say...
Here’s what some people have said about her performances:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. A big part of what made it fun and accessible to me was the commentary; both descriptions and stories involving Norway and also the stories about Karen’s family and the origins of her interest in the music and the instrument. As intriguing and interesting as the music itself is, I think the frame created by the stories and history are every bit as valuable to the performance.”
“Karen puts on a very good show. Her conversation was interesting and very easy to understand, and the flow of music was great. Very nice humor. We just like the Hardanger fiddle sound so much, and like Karen Solgard’s presence.”
Sharing the fun -
Where Karen has performed and taught
Karen’s recent performances have taken her to New York City, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas area and many large and small communities around the United States. She taught Hardanger fiddle at St. Olaf College during 2004-5 school year. Karen has been on the Young Audiences of Minnesota roster for ten years, presenting concerts, workshops and residencies in schools and children’s groups. Performances have included festivals such as Decorah’s Nordic Fest, Moorhead’s Hjemkomst Festival, Story City (Iowa) Scandinavian Days, and Nisswa Stämma; community and college concert series and radio programs in the USA and Norway.
As Karen delves more deeply into the music of the Hardanger fiddle, she recognizes that it is a lifetime work to master the instrument, a vast music and cultural tradition. A member of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (HFAA) since 1985, she has served as its vice president, as editor of the organization’s journal, Sound Post, as the fiddle teaching coordinator and teacher at the HFAA summer workshops for several years. She was chairperson of the Twin Cities Hardingfelelag for several years. Karen continues to teach about Norwegian culture to children and adults of all ages through fiddling, dancing, and singing.
How did Karen learn Hardanger fiddle?
Karen Torkelson Solgård grew up on a farm north of Crookston in a musical family. Her mother and grandmother taught the children Norwegian folksongs and Karen, with two of her sisters, sang trios for events, festivals and contests. She excelled in music as a young girl, studied at the University of Minnesota School of Music in Minneapolis, and pursued a career in cello for ten years before taking up Hardanger fiddle seriously.
Ever curious about the Norwegian-style violin in the family, Karen traveled to Norway in 1986 where she heard Hardanger fiddle played by Norwegian masters for the first time. Karen took a study trip to Vinje, Telemark, Norway, in 1998 to study with the local master Hardanger fiddler (and distant relative) Tarjei Romtveit. She learned that her grandfather had at least five cousins who played Hardanger fiddle. One was the well-known composer and musicologist Eivind Groven.
She has studied Vestland style with Dr. Andrea Een, Hardanger fiddle professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Valdres tradition with Olav Jørgen Hegge, and Telemark tradition with several masters including Alf Tveit, Hauk Buen, and Vidar Lande.