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RINGING STRINGS FIDDLE MUSIC OF - SHETLAND Hauk Buen, Knut Buen, Tom Anderson, Vidar Lande TSDL429

1 HAUGELATTEN (The Tune from the Hills) 13 BOKKOEN (Dance tune by Bokko) Hauk Hauk and Knut Buen Buen 2 SELJORD BRIDAL MARCH Tom Anderson 14 UNST BRIDAL MARCH/DA BRIDE’S A with Hauk and Knut Buen BOANNIE TING Tom Anderson and Knut 3 GRAVBAKKEN (The Grave Yard) Vidar Buen Ringing Lande 15 HOMSLIEN (Tune of the Goblins) Vidar Strings Lande Fiddle Music 4 FILLE-VERN (Ragged-Vern) - walking Of Norway - dance Vidar Lande 16 SKRUBBEN (The Wolf) Vidar Lande Shetland 5 SORDALEN (Setesdalgangar) Vidar Lande 17 NORAFJELLS (North of the Mountains) 02 6 MAGGIE O’HAM (Foula Shaalds Dance) Vidar Lande Tom Anderson and Knut Buen with Debbie Scott and Catriona MacDonald 7 PRESTEGANGAREN (The Parson’s Dance) Folk music is a collective inheritance but an Hauk Buen individual responsibility’ - Zoltan Kodaly 8 FYKERUDEN (Homage to Fykerud) Hauk Buen 9 MARKENSMANDAGEN (The Market- Monday) Hauk Buen ‘There are many who can play the fiddle but only few who can tune it’ - Telemark fiddler 10 KNUT LURASEN I (Hjerki Haukeland) Knut Buen 11 MARGIT HJUKSE (Listening Tune) Knut Buen 12 SIRI RUKAREN (Fiddler’s Wife) Hauk Buen TSDL429

COMMENTARY BY L Y DALIOT Other recordings represent the original, lively older music of the valley in , between Norwegian and Shetland musical traditions: aThe kind selections of musical on bridge this record over reflectthe North a certain Sea. These affinity are and scholar Vidar Lande from the community of conventional recordings, without gimmicks, intended masterfully played by the outstanding young fiddler evokes a mood of enchantment. The exciting Ringing traditionalBygland, home music of ofmany Setesdal fine fiddlers. is one of His the playing oldest and Strings to deepen the appreciation of this unique fiddle music Fiddle Music tone-colours, original sounds and lively rhythms. most sophisticated in Scandinavia. The district was Of Norway - Listenersfrom Northern with aEurope. good will This and fiddling a sense style of exploration is rich in relatively unexplored until this century: an enclosed Shetland community that preserved its local folk culture. The 03 willSome come recordings across manyappear fascinating partly as the finds. result of a particularly happy musical collaboration between Harding fiddle came there only towards the end of the Tom Anderson, the great vigorous master of Shetland music19th century; - often described previously as the the ordinary liveliest fiddlein Britain had -been canvery be common. heard in Some the almost Norse hypnoticroots of Shetland sounds of fiddle the fiddle music, and the distinguished champions of the and Shetland Folk Festivals (1981-82), where they with its combination of simplicity and complexity, wereHarding on sparklingfiddle, Hauk form. and Tom Knut received Buen, at as the a gift Edinburgh from Harding fiddle music of Setesdal. Genuine folk music, in what are called highly modern industrial societies fela’ (on which he plays, with Hauk and Knut, in the withstill flourishes prosperous on life-styles. both sides From of the that North point Sea of - view,even the Buen family a very fine Harding fiddle, ‘Viking- wedding march on Track 2). ‘With these two brothers Norway and Shetland might be said to be super- powers in the world of traditional music. has been my greatest dream, which has come true now.from AllTelemark,’ my life -Tom well, says, for the ‘I have last a40 true years affinity. - I have This wanted to try this.’ TSDL429

PERSONAL RECOLLECTION ‘Yes, to be sure it is harsh-toned. But if it comes like If Norway were to show the world a single original that, what can one do? It is the same with some folk example of folk art, expressing a true Norwegianness, singing. This is a natural expression of Norwegian temperament, though there are many in Norway slatter, or tunes. (These tunes include folk couple- dancesthe best the choice springar would and be gangar the Harding - ‘walking fiddle dance’, and its and is, to brighten the miserable circumstances Ringing the solo dance halling for men, bridal marches and ofwho daily know existence. nothing It of gives it. The people aim ofjoy. our With fiddling slatter was, Strings Fiddle Music it should always be fun. Inspiring performance is Of Norway - what counts, not mechanical perfection. You have to Shetland earliestlistening form, tunes.) in HardangerThis decorated Fjord, type south of fiddle, of Bergen, with its create a strong tradition, and then preserve it.’ The 04 aboutfour or 300 five years sympathetic ago. It has strings, been wasplayed made, ever in since its in the Western, Southern and Central . as Norwegians love this music and feel a desire to It is one of the most splendid folk instruments in expressHarding themselvesfiddle tradition in it. will continue to grow as long the world; certainly much more than a mere tourist attraction. NATIONAL INSTRUMENT

the European violin is that it has resonating strings painfully beautiful. It becomes easier to appreciate The main difference between the Harding fiddle and theThe oftener folk music it is of heard. the Harding It requires fiddle its islistener often almost not to change his or her outlook, but rather to adopt (not touched by the player) below the fingerboard. anThe original neck and Norwegian fingerboard characteristic. are short, as There in some is also, 17th- voices’, movable drones, sound-colourings and daring traditionally,century violins. rich The ornamentation. bridge and fingerboard The most commonare flat, harmoniesa more flexible born taste. out of The the music polyphonies consists of of various ‘inner tunings. In such characteristics lies its wild beauty. tuned B d e f sharp a. Many other tunings are used, mainlytuning isin A Setesdal. d a e , with the five sympathetic strings

At first it may sound unfamiliar - but, as one old Telemark fiddler, a poet and musician, has observed:

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conventional classical music and popular music. scanty and unreliable. Most scholars believe that it wasInformation developed about from the the origin ordinary of the violin Harding and fiddlethat the is THE SHETLAND CONNECTION idea of sympathetic strings came from the East, by Shetland is almost as close to Western Norway as it is way of Scotland, to Western Norway. The instrument to Scotland, and a mere 500 years ago it was part of then became so popular in some regions of Norway the kingdom of Norway. Shetlanders are very proud Ringing that it has driven some other folk instruments of their Viking ancestry and Norse heritage, and that Strings legacy, still fresh in their minds and inspiring their Fiddle Music virtually into obscurity. The quality of each Of Norway - instrument depends, naturally, upon its maker’s skill Shetland Reminders of a Scandinavian past may be seen and imaginations, is reflected in many aspects of local life. 05 were made in Telemark.) The timbre is very typical, heard in place-names, in the local dialect, in the great and sensitivity. (All the fiddles heard on this record (Nyckelharpa) of Sweden, or of the hurdy-gurdy. and may perhaps remind one of the keyed fiddle JanuarySince the fire 18th festival century of Up-Helly-Aa. the violin has been the favourite instrument in Shetland, and it is well loved and experience to do it justice. It is by nature a solo to this day. At one time the music of Shetland, no instrument,The Harding and fiddle sounds demands best aon great its own. deal Commonly, of skill less than the entire culture of the region, would have it was used in the past as an instrument for dance been almost wholly Scandinavian. The old Shetland

fiddling style owes something to Harding fiddle music listenermusic, but than today the bothdancer. the Harding fiddle and the there are clear similarities with the latter. The playing Shetland fiddle are coming to be played more for the of- probably two or more more strings than to at Scots one time,or Irish with fiddling, the open though No written music or system of notation can give an strings ringing, and the bowing technique of one note down and three up, lends the music a special sound.

evenaccurate those idea who of cana Harding read music fiddle pick piece, up andtheir most tunes by broadly into dances, listening tunes and bridal earNorwegian and learn fiddlers from each in fact other do not in that read way. music. The But slatter marches.Shetland fiddleThese musicwedding may marches be divided have counter - music is essentially a rural folk art, independent of parts in Norway and are similar in form and TSDL429

character as well as function. According to Tom 2) SELJORD BRIDAL MARCH is a common and very Anderson, ‘You can play Shetland tunes on our well-loved tune that originated in Seljord with the

and they are so close together, it’s amazing. In such Telemark Wedding March. According to tradition the violins and play the Harding fiddle along with them fiddler Hans Flatland. It is sometimes called the to the church and to the bride’s home. Such festive Ringing same.’combinations (Examples the mayordinary be heard fiddle on and tracks the 6melody and 14) andfiddler solemn (or fiddlers) pieces are leads also the played wedding in Shetland procession and Strings strings of the Harding fiddle have to be tuned the Fiddle Music Sweden. Hauk and Knut Buen play together with Tom Of Norway - SOUNDS AND COLOURS Shetland Tom Anderson said recently: ‘Well, every folk music, 06 I suppose, has its own environment. I see colours Anderson3) GRAVBAKKEN on Harding (The fiddles.Grave Yard) is a highly original piece, known in various versions in Bygland and music. Most beautiful colours. I think it’s there Rysstad in the heart of the Setesdal district. It is a in our music and I see colours in the Harding fiddle mysterious tune, full of witchcraft and magic. The mountains, waterfalls, springtime blossoms, and sun melody strings are tuned in normal violin fashion. thatbecause refuses of all to these turn inmighty till the fjords early and hours.... valleys, rocky Vidar Lande’s adaptation is based on the playing of

1) HAUGELATTEN - many slatter are associated with legends. This dance-tune transports us instantly fiddlers4) FILLE-VERN Eivind Aakhus- this happy and Torsetesdalgangar O Sandnes. (walking

bull. After searching in the mountain for several days Vern Auvorsson, who probably used to walk around heinto fell fairyland. asleep and The dreamed fiddler Brynjuv that a beautiful Olson had maiden lost his indance) ragged is believedclothes and to be thus named acquired after the a young nickname fiddler, of appeared to him and told him that on his return home Fille (Ragged) Vern. to his wife and child he should play this sparkling 5) SORDALEN - this slatt (a typical gangar) is the ‘where the fairy hills disappear’. piece that Vidar Lange learned as a boy from his uncle tune, whereupon he would find the bull far away Gunnar Lande. It is connected with a historic event,first a crime at Sordalen (a farm in Setesdal). Sigurd TSDL429

Eivindsson had seduced a girl from Austad farmstead. Telemark, and travelled to America for concert tours. One evening, during a dance feast at Sordal, Sigurd lured the girl - who was by now with child - out into a which are still much loved and performed today. barn, where he killed her. For this he was executed at Fykerud composed many pieces for Harding fiddle Sordalen. 9) MARKENSMANDAGEN - one of Fykerud’s best- known pieces (springar Ringing 6) MAGGIE O’HAM is a lively dance-tune, one of the probably learned from him when they were Strings oldest and best-known in Shetland folk music. This together at the Kongsberg), which market. other Playing fiddlers in local Fiddle Music Of Norway - marketplaces was a source of income, sometimes Shetland is a combined performance by Harding fiddle (Knut 07 with two of his young pupils. Catriona MacDonald importantly, it was an opportunity for folk musicians andBuen) Debbie and Shetland Scott are fiddles, members played of ‘Shetland’s by Tom Anderson Young fromconsiderable different income, districts for to fiddlers. meet and But, exchange more slatter Heritage’, a society formed to preserve and perform and ‘to have much fun together’, as Fykerud used to Shetland tunes rooted in old Norse melodies. The say. In East Norway the joyful Kongsberg market in

by older Shetland players and quite common today in from Telemark, Numedal and Valdres. ordinary fiddles are tuned AEAE, a tuning employed Buskerud was the best meeting-place for fiddlers 10) KNUT LURASEN I - Actually the original name Harding7) PRESTEGANGAREN fiddle music. (The Parson’s Dance) is one of of this tune (a gangar from Telemark) is Hjerki the oldest gangar tunes from Telemark, with a rich Haukeland. It belongs to the tradition surrounding two-part character. Hauk Buen learned it from his father Anders Buen at their farmhouse in Jondalen. This slatt is played in many versions in Telemark; the andKnut rose-painters. Luras, ‘grandfather Knut Luras of all himselffiddlers’, was who a wasdouble born one recorded here is after Olav Evju. into a family, from Tinn, of many outstanding fiddlers brother Øystein was engaged to a maid from Bergen, 8) FYKERUDEN - a dance-tune (springar) dedicated Hjerkimaster, Haukeland, of Harding whofiddle liked and rose-decorations rose-painting. His and to Lars Fykerud, one of the greatest and most gifted dancing. At the marriage entertainment Knut Luras played a new dance-tune which his brother had fiddlers who ever lived. He was born in Sauherad, TSDL429

composed for the occasion, and the newly-married couple danced it with great spirit. The composer and characteristic two-part playing, became best known conductor Johan Halvorsen wrote it dovim from Knut fiddler Øystein Bokko from Tinn. This piece, with its Dahle, who learned it from Haavard Gibøen, who Johannes Dahle. Hauk Buen learned it from his old heard it from Knut Luras. All these are famous names through the great fiddlers Torkell Haugerud and in Norwegian music. Løndal from Tuddal. Ringing friend and colleague, the distinguished fiddler Olav Strings 11) MARGIT HJUKSE - a listening tune by Lars 14) UNST BRIDAL MARCH/DA BRIDE’S A BOANNIE Fiddle Music Of Norway - Fykerud. The melody strings are tuned G c a e. The TING - The two wedding melodies from the island Shetland tune was inspired by the mighty mountain ballad of of Unst (collected by Patrick Shuldham Shaw) are 08 the same name, from Telemark, which tells of a girl here performed by the rare combination of Harding who is spirited away from her home in the valley by a mountain king, and taken to live in a mountain. The expressive pizzicato represents the ringing of church procession,fiddle and Shetland the second violin to welcomewith the soundthe bride of ‘ringing into bells. thestrings’. house. The (The first same tune pieceswas used may to be lead heard the onwedding Topic abum, The Silver Bow, played by four Shetland 12) SIRI RUKAREN - a piece with a very special mood and tone colour. The story behind it is rather sad. fiddlers.)15) HOMSLIEN playing music, one midsummer night after a jolly tusseslatter (goblins’ tunes) from the tradition of feastThe fiddler on the Ola farm. Rukaren Suddenly was his sitting wife onSiri a came bridge up and and is one of the finest so-called ordered him to go home. Ola became angry, stopped Tallak Haslebakken had a wife called Kristi. One playing, jumped down from the bridge and broke SundayBygland, morning with a special she heard tuning, in her B e dreams a e. The the fiddler goblins his wife’s back, shouting ‘Return home to sleep, Siri playing near the summer dairy in the mountains. Rukaren!’ Afterwards he composed this lovely dance- When she hummed it to her husband he played the tune and dedicated it to his devoted wife. Homsli, hence the tune’s name. The rhythm is that of 13) BOKKOEN - a slatt (springar) named after the atune gangar on his. Harding fiddle. Kristi was from the farm TSDL429

16) SKRUBBEN in the local dialect means wolf. Vidar First published by TOPIC 1983 Lande learned this walking dance from neighbouring Production and notes by L Y Daliot setesdalslatter it Recorded in Edinburgh, Jondalen and Oslo (The is a gangar. recordings of Hauk Buen [Tracks, 7, 8, 12, 13] fiddlers at his home-place. Like most were made in collaboration with the Norwegian 17) NORAFJELLS is one of the most exciting and Folk Music Archive, University of Oslo) Ringing Sleeve design by Tony Engle Strings intensity that evokes a trance-like magic. There is a Front cover painting: Edvard Munch, ‘The Sun’ Fiddle Music dramatic Harding fiddle pieces, a tune of hypnotic Of Norway - blaze of splendour and awe in what has been called (Solen), by courtesy of the Munch Museum, Oslo Shetland the ‘hottest of all loose-string slatts’. The tuning 09 is called Gorrolaus (very loose): the bass string is The producer-editor would like to thank lowered from A to F. This F d a e tuning is frequently specially Reidar Sevag, Head of the Norwegian used in Setesdal. It is not known why the slatt was given the name of North of the Mountains, or who Knut Buen and Vidar Lande for all the assistance andFolk encouragement Music Archive, and given the to fiddlers him as ‘anHauk outsider’ Buen, ‘That devil of a slatt! Enough to make me jump out in Norway. ofmade my itgrave!’ first. OneThe pieceold fiddler is played is reported in many to versions have said: in Setesdal and Telemark; Vidar Lande’s is his own. A SINAR (OSLO) PRODUCTION

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Ringing Strings Fiddle Music Of Norway - Shetland

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Hauk Buen Knut Buen

Vidar Lande TSDL429

Ringing Strings Fiddle Music Of Norway - Shetland

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Knut Buen, Tom Anderson, Hauk Buen

Hauk Buen, Tom Anderson

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