I've never played one, but I'm periodically infected with a lust for a hardanger fiddle. They are such beautiful works of art and have such a unique and wonderful sound. I have a first edition of Dune that I've been holding on to for 20 years, and I'm tempted to sell it to buy a hardanger.
The only big name in trad that I know of that uses one is Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. Are there others that I don't know about?
Is there anyone here who owns a hardanger? If so, are there any special considerations with playing Irish trad on one? What tuning do you use? To play in a session with one it would need to be tuned to standard pitch; does that affect the drone strings? Does it still sound right tuned that way? Are they really *that* hard to tune? Any special maintenance considerations?
Anyway, I'm really not sure I'm going to sell the book yet since it will continue to go up in value, but on the other hand I'd much rather have a new fiddle. And damn but those hardangers are beautiful.
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh (Altan) has one and Irish television did a special about it being made for her and her going to pick it up. There may be a link somewhere for you to view it.
But Dune is such an awesome book! And damn, a twenty-year investment...seriously, I'd keep Herbie around for a bit longer.
Caoimhin actually got turned onto the Hardanger from a colleague, working at a particle accelerator in the States - back in his days of being an astrophysicist. Weird, huh?
From what I understand, the Hardanger is played a bit lighter than a regular fiddle; it's not as tough, and you need a special luthier to service it. It should be tuneable any way you can imagine to tune it, and given time to adjust it should sound just peachy, although by simple mathematics it is harder to tune in the first place. Overall, there are people out there like the HFAA that can totally help you out with whatever concerns you may have or issues you need solutions to. If you can conjure up the money, you could definitely work it and play it, but...
Nyckelharpa. Very close, though. : ) It's a very cool instrument and I'm glad it survived all this middle class must-make-every-waking-moment-profitable-to-someone-BS that has more or less destroyed many fine European folk traditions.
I've seen a few Nyckelharpa flooting about in Donegal and Tom from Dervish got one as a wedding pressie. Fantastic things. That scandie band Vasan sure know how to use one.
Called " Cairdeas na bhfidleiri " . I think. I taped it so will check. it was a two parter.
It featured the connections between Ire, scot, shetland and Norway and had an interesting bit on the Hardanger. (After I saw it i too would like one of them yokes some day!)
Hardangers in Irish Trad
Hardangers in Irish Trad
I've never played one, but I'm periodically infected with a lust for a hardanger fiddle. They are such beautiful works of art and have such a unique and wonderful sound. I have a first edition of Dune that I've been holding on to for 20 years, and I'm tempted to sell it to buy a hardanger.
The only big name in trad that I know of that uses one is Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. Are there others that I don't know about?
Is there anyone here who owns a hardanger? If so, are there any special considerations with playing Irish trad on one? What tuning do you use? To play in a session with one it would need to be tuned to standard pitch; does that affect the drone strings? Does it still sound right tuned that way? Are they really *that* hard to tune? Any special maintenance considerations?
Anyway, I'm really not sure I'm going to sell the book yet since it will continue to go up in value, but on the other hand I'd much rather have a new fiddle. And damn but those hardangers are beautiful.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh (Altan) has one and Irish television did a special about it being made for her and her going to pick it up. There may be a link somewhere for you to view it.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Confusion says ~ "A fiddle in hand is better than a book hidden away in a drawer someplace..."
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Well yeah, that's kind of what I'm thinking
But the longer I wait the more the book is worth...but I've already waited a long time.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
String Sisters ~
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bv1kugO_puc&feature=related
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
ceolchuarit on TG4 ~ February 3rd, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF7gw6xX90U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX3g9biwoPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuVK_yGLzM
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Thanks!
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
But Dune is such an awesome book! And damn, a twenty-year investment...seriously, I'd keep Herbie around for a bit longer.
Caoimhin actually got turned onto the Hardanger from a colleague, working at a particle accelerator in the States - back in his days of being an astrophysicist. Weird, huh?
From what I understand, the Hardanger is played a bit lighter than a regular fiddle; it's not as tough, and you need a special luthier to service it. It should be tuneable any way you can imagine to tune it, and given time to adjust it should sound just peachy, although by simple mathematics it is harder to tune in the first place. Overall, there are people out there like the HFAA that can totally help you out with whatever concerns you may have or issues you need solutions to. If you can conjure up the money, you could definitely work it and play it, but...
I love Dune so much!
--DtM
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Dan the Man
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
http://www.hfaa.org/hardanger_fiddle.html
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
http://www.fiddle.com/issues/fall03.htm#anchor1824321
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
How much, roughly, do they cost and where can they be gotten from? Any Norweigan websites? I am too poor just now, but curious ;)
Thanks
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Joanne Ward
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Here they are available custom-made for about $3,000 to $5,000
http://www.hardingfele.com/
I've seen them for sale other places, about in that price range.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
D. J. F. also has an obsession with hardanger fiddles. I'm sure he'll pop up on this thread soon. If he doesn't, he's probably very ill or on holiday.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by mehitabel23
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
And once you've got hold of a hardanger, what are you going to sell when you hear and see a nyckelharper ( sp ? ) ?
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
I hadn't realised Donegal was quite as dramatic as that...till I eventually twigged it was Norway.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
Nyckelharpa. Very close, though. : ) It's a very cool instrument and I'm glad it survived all this middle class must-make-every-waking-moment-profitable-to-someone-BS that has more or less destroyed many fine European folk traditions.
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
"Middle-class", come on, we're all middle-class here, us tapping away at out Macs or Windows XPs cos we've got too much spare time...
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
http://lostbiro.com/fullcircle/downloads.html
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by mcknowall
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
There's a sample of Dermot Crehan playing one here
http://www.dermotcrehan.co.uk/fiddle.htm
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
I've seen a few Nyckelharpa flooting about in Donegal and Tom from Dervish got one as a wedding pressie. Fantastic things. That scandie band Vasan sure know how to use one.
# Posted on June 30th 2008 by iwerzon
Re: Hardangers in Irish Trad
There was a great show on TG4 over Christmas.
Called " Cairdeas na bhfidleiri " . I think. I taped it so will check. it was a two parter.
It featured the connections between Ire, scot, shetland and Norway and had an interesting bit on the Hardanger. (After I saw it i too would like one of them yokes some day!)
# Posted on June 30th 2008 by richrua