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Norwegian Hardingfele, or Hardanger Fiddle
Norwegian Hardingfele, or Hardanger Fiddle
The beautiful Hardanger Fiddle is the Norwegian national instrument. It has four strings over the bridge, like a regular violin, and another four ‘sympathetic’ strings that run through the bridge and under the fingerboard – can you see the four extra strings and 4 extra pegs? They’re called sympathetic strings because they vibrate on their own when the main strings are played, which gives the instrument a very full, resonant sound.
Listen to it being played for a traditional Norwegian Hat Dance, or Hallingsdans: