What is Hardanger fiddle?
[[Image:FeleHel (2).jpg|right|thumb|156px|A hardanger fiddle]] A '''Hardanger fiddle''' or '''hardingfele''' in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], is a traditional [[string instrument]] used mainly in the south west of [[Norway]]. It is similar to the [[violin]], but it has eight or nine strings and the [[wood]] is thinner. Four of the strings are strung and played like a violin, while the other strings are [[sympathetic strings]] (they [[vibration|vibrate]] when the others are played). The Hardingfele is used for dancing. The player stamps his foot loudly while playing. It was the Norwegian tradition for a bridal procession to be led to the [[church]] by a Hardanger fiddler. The instrument has a lot of decoration, with a carved animal (usually the [[Coat of arms of Norway|Lion of Norway]]) or a carved woman's head as part of the [[scroll]] at the top of the pegbox, [[mother of pearl]] in the tailpiece and [[fingerboard]], and black ink decorations called 'rosing' on the body of the instrument. Sometimes pieces of [[bone]] are used to decorate the pegs and the edges of the instrument. The earliest known instrument is dated 1651 although we do not know whether this date is correct. By 1850 it had developed into the Hardanger fiddle known today. The Hardanger fiddle can be tuned in lot of different ways, depending on the music to be played. The Norwegian [[composer]] [[Edvard Grieg]] liked Norwegian folk music. When he wrote the famous tune “Morning” for the music for ''[[Peer Gynt]]'' he was thinking of the notes that would be played on the Hardanger fiddle. In the [[20th century]] the Hardanger fiddle has become very popular in Norway through competitions. The players have to play in the style of the area they come from. == Other websites == {{commonscat|Hardanger fiddle}} * [http://www.hf.uio.no/imv/om-instituttet/nfs/felenett/traditio.html The Norwegian Collection of Folk Music] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312082951/http://www.hf.uio.no/imv/om-instituttet/nfs/felenett/tradit