Hardanger or Hardingfele (fiddle, no mando content)

[Jim Garber]

I don't think so... hardanger fiddles have those overlapping f-holes and I think that may be what you are seeing.

[Graham McDonald]

I wrote an article on carving hardanger soundboards with the overlapping f holes for the GAL's American Lutherie a few years back. I found a few photos on a Norwegian builders website when I couldn't get my head around the sequence of processes involved and wrote it all up with a bit more detail. I can send a pdf or put it up on the website if anyone is interested, though you should all be members of the GAL if you make instruments anyway

cheers

[catmandu2]

Just curious... what are these tunes that Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh plays? Are they original compositions? They don't sound like Norwegian or Irish to me.

Extended improvisations? The piece in 1/5 sounds like maybe a composition-

There's some real nice trad stuff on utube too - some of which now seems unavailable though..

[Bernie Daniel]

I wrote an article on carving hardanger soundboards with the overlapping f holes for the GAL's American Lutherie a few years back. I found a few photos on a Norwegian builders website when I couldn't get my head around the sequence of processes involved and wrote it all up with a bit more detail. I can send a pdf or put it up on the website if anyone is interested, though you should all be members of the GAL if you make instruments anyway cheers

Any thoughts on what is gained by overlapping f-holes -- maybe better for expressing the sympathetic vibrations?

Or is it perhaps that is how a Hardingfele fiddle is made -- no reason needed.

I was going to look it up but what is the origin of the two different names?

[catmandu2]

Others will know...I think there's a region - or particular lake?- in norway from whence it derives. Probably is trad pronounciation - modern convention, etc..

[Graham McDonald]

There is Hardangerfjord near Bergen, and I always thought the Hardanger fiddle is the English version of Hardingfele. I think that the origin of the Norwegian fiddles might lie with the early German Stainer school of violins which have very steep arching and an almost flat centre section (a bit like Orville G's early mandolins!) s well as a squarer outline like some of the older Hardanger fiddles. I suspect the undercut f holes were because they could Don't think they were being that analytical about the acoustics

cheers

[Jim Garber]

Brief but informative article here. I don't really see any resemblance to Stainer violins which have an unusually high arch. I believe the hardanger fiddles are actually flatter in profile.

[Graham McDonald]

It was more the shape of the arching, rather than the height I was thinking of. The two plans I have seen of Hardangers use a fairly standard 15mm arching height, though I haven't done any research on the older ones with the squarer body shape. Somewhere along the way I have come across some early (16th /early 17th century) German fiddles with a similar older shape and that steeply rising by flat across the top arching and that seemed like a possible influence for that old Hardanger shape as a folk fiddle. Could be entirely wrong of course

[Bernie Daniel]

Brief but informative article here. I don't really see any resemblance to Stainer violins which have an unusually high arch. I believe the hardanger fiddles are actually flatter in profile.

The link on the page to nice selection of playing styles is pretty interesting too.

[houseworker]

I've got a Chinese hardanger made by Mr Song (the maker whose work normally turns up on eBay). I acquired it from a friend who was needing to thin the herd. It's well enough made and sounds the part, with enough drone from the sympathetic strings.

It's built to the same length as a standard violin and is of heavier construction than most genuine hardangers. It supports modern strings rather than requiring gut. It also looks the part - at a distance you'd easily think that it was the genuine thing. It doesn't retain any significant value; I picked this up at around half the eBay price. It comes in a nice case (a BAM knock-off).

I also have a Norwegian hardanger which cost me around ten times what I paid for the Chinese one (and continues to do so in restringing costs). For the times I simply want to play Scots or Irish tunes with added drone the Chinese instrument is the easy choice.

I wouldn't have contemplated buying from eBay though. Overpriced (to me), and not the sort of instrument to buy untried. You'll not find it too easy to sell on if you don't like it.

[Jim Garber]

Even more info on this 4+ year old thread on hardanger fiddles.

Also: here is a page on how one experienced maker makes the f-holes.

[houseworker]

Anyone in the US seriously interested in the Hardanger fiddle should consider joining the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America, if only for the easy access to proper strings.

[jmp]

Anyone in the US seriously interested in the Hardanger fiddle should consider joining the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America, if only for the easy access to proper strings.

I've also gotten their instruction books which are pretty helpful considering there is next to nothing else out there on the subject!

[Mandobart]

Thanks to everyone for the info. Proof again that this is the best forum on the net. I posted the same question on the fiddle hangout and got...3 responses.

[hahadanger]

hi i bought one of theses chinese hardangers from song musical ebay and have done a sound clip. is there a way of loading it up on
here? or maybe i will have to put it on soundcloud or something any suggestions? thanks oh and these are beautiful fiddles!

[MikeEdgerton]

Click on the Go Advanced button, then Manage Attachments and upload the sound file. Post some pictures of the fiddle at the same time.

[hahadanger]

hardanger mp3.mp3ah ha thanks for that so here it is not the best quality recoding just improvising and the best bit is the last 10 sec! took a
while to warm up but the actual live tone is deeper and very resonant and sweet highs but you'll get a good idea anways.
the pic is a very similar one to mine same maker song musical. the pegs wiil need ajusting by a luthier a are a bit tight when new.

[hahadanger]

hardanger mp3.mp3ah ha thanks for that so here it is not the best quality recoding just improvising and the best bit is the last 10 sec! took a
while to warm up but the actual live tone is deeper and very resonant and sweet highs but you'll get a good idea anways.
the pic is a very similar one to mine same maker song musical. the pegs wiil need ajusting by a luthier a are a bit tight when new.

oh and these are cheap factory strings on it i will replace with a set of fanitullen strings
i got from norway from Con Arco and will record again when they settle to see if there is any difference in tone.