Since the 1600s, the violin has played a central role in the music of Norway and Sweden. One particularly unique Norwegian tradition is that of the Hardanger fiddle. First built by Ole Jonsen Jaastad in 1651, the fiddle is named after its hometown. What makes it so special? Where most violins have four strings, the Hardanger comes with eight or even nine. The extra strings run beneath the standard four. They resonate during play, causing a fuller, richer sound than the average violin.
In this demonstration provided by the Library of Congress, musicians Andrea Hoag and Loretta Kelley discuss and demonstrate the finer points of Scandinavian fiddling, including the Hardanger fiddle. From the Library of Congress:
Andrea Hoag and Loretta Kelley are among the United States' foremost performers of Scandinavian traditional music. Each of them has spent years studying with tradition-bearers in Scandinavia, and honing their own techniques at home.
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