Join us on May 13 for a showcase on the legendary Hardanger fiddle, featuring a concert and discussion with Karen Rebholz and Lucy Jacobs!

Hardanger fiddles originated in Norway in the 1600s and are richly ornamented with intricate carving, inlaid fittings and black line drawing. An ethereal resonance is created by sympathetic understrings. Traditional Hardanger fiddle music is played with asymmetric rhythms, multiple tunings, and nonstandard tones which have been preserved by means of an unbroken aural chain. In today’s program, Lucy Jacobus and Karen Rebholz will introduce you to the Hardanger fiddle and perform traditional tunes that were the musical accompaniment to life in the Norwegian countryside. These tunes mark important events in the lives of the people and serve as an aural repository of history and traditions unique to each valley.