The HFAA offers hard-to-find books about the fiddle tradition, famous fiddlers, and transcriptions of tunes for the Hardanger fiddle. We also have Hardanger fiddle instruction manuals.

To order, download the order form and print. Please include on the order form the alphanumeric item number found at the end of each item description. Note the prices for members and for non-members. Mail the form with your check or money to the address on the order form.

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Books

Knut Buen's Telemarkspel
By Loretta Kelley. Buen Kulturverkstad, 1990. 36 pp., 15 photos. In English.

[This title is currently unavailable.] Booklet containing transcriptions of all 24 tunes on Knut Buen’s instruction cassette Telemarkspel (available separately). The cassette contains Knut’s performances of hardingfele tunes of varying difficulty, from beginner to advanced. The booklet also contains information on each tune and a complete explanation of the notational system for hardingfele music. Member price: $15 / Non-members: $20 [M013].

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Mellom vener: Slåttar av Lars Skjervheim (Among Friends: Tunes by Lars Skjervheim)
Spelarhaugen Folkemusikk, 1988.

Booklet containing transcriptions for 21 vals, reinlender, springar, and rull tunes all composed by Lars Skjervheim (1915- ) from Vossestrand in Western Norway. Skjervheim is the greatest living fiddler from the older generation of Voss fiddlers. The accompanying cassette (sold separately, see Recordings section) features Skjervheim and friends performing tunes from the booklet. Member price: $13 / Nonmembers: $17 [M005].

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Ola Mosafinn
By Arne Bjørndal

First published in Bergen in 1922. This edition, a photo-offset of the original, was printed in 1978 by the Voss Spelemannslag on the 150th anniversary of Ola Mosafinn’s birth. 148 pp., 25 photographs, in Norwegian. This is the definitive biography of one of Norway's greatest fiddlers of the last century, written by Western Norway's greatest folk music researcher and writer. Member price: $17 / Non-members: $20 [M009].

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Ord og tonar: Per Berge 85 år (Words and Music: In Honor of Per Berge's 85th Birthday)
Published by Voss Spelemannslag, 1972.

Includes five transcriptions of traditional Voss springar, rull and bridal tunes as played by Per Berge, transcribed by Sigbjørn B. Osa. Text (in Norwegian) is a short biography of Per Berge, the last fiddler of his time who still played the old style of Ola Mosafinn (according to Sigbjørn Osa). See also the accompanying cassette, Per Berge 100 års minne. 14 pp., 3 photos. Member price: $8 / Non-members: $9 [M007].

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Mjukt og fint du: Nils J. Borge (1892-1992) 100 års minne (Supple and Fine: Nils J. Borge 100th Anniversary)
Published by Voss Spelemannslag, 1992.

[This title is currently unavailable.] A short biography of a great fiddler from Vossestrand in Western Norway, including transcriptions of eight of Borge’s most-played tunes. The accompanying cassette (offered separately) contains 15 tunes, recorded by Borge in 1954 and 1912, seven of which are transcribed in the booklet. 21 pp., 12 photographs. In Norwegian. Member price: $10 / Non-members: $12 [M006].

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A History of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (1983 - 1993)
By Carl T. Narvestad, 1994

A 64-page account of the first 10 years of the organization.
Includes the beginnings of the association and past annual meeting
information. Some photos included. Member price: $5 / Non-members: $7
[M011].

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Anund Roheim Commemorative Issue of Telesoga, the publication of Telelaget of America

Special issue commemorating the great Norwegian-American hardingfele player Anund Roheim, of Black Eagle, Montana/Bø, Telemark. Contains articles about his life and music. Members: $3 / Non-members: $3.50 [M015].

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Otto Furholt Slåttar
By Vidar Lande, 1984.

Invaluable resource containing transcriptions of 124 tunes from the core repertory of Otto Furholt, the greatest fiddler and tradition bearer of southern Agder county. Otto comes from Vegusdal, and plays many little-known tunes, both gangars and springars, from there and the neighboring areas of Herefoss and Mykland. About half of his repertory, however, consists of traditional Setesdal gangar tunes. Vidar’s transcriptions are easy to read. Includes information on the source of each tune plus cross-references to other tune variants. Softcover, 264 pp., published by Kristiansand Spelemannslag. Members: $18 / Non-members: $22 [M017].

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Instruction Manuals (with accompanying CDs)

Bernt Balchen Jr.’s home study course is especially recommended for the beginning player. The three manuals, with their accompanying CDs, present basic information about the hardingfele.

Bernt Balchen’s Course for Beginners in Hardanger Fiddle

Manual (35 pages) and CD. Contains transcriptions of 20 tunes, both gammeldans (waltz, reinlender, etc.) and bygdedans (springar, gangar, etc.) from various districts, a chapter on note reading, practice hints, and a diagram for stringing the instrument. The CD contains Balchen’s performance of the tunes from the manual plus verbal comments. Includes waltz, springar, wedding march, vossarull, halling, mazurka and pols. Member price: $10 / Non-members: $15 [M002].

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More from Bernt Balchen, Jr. (Two-in-One Manual)

Manual (35 pages) and CD. Contains two sections: “Introduction to Fiddle Maintenance and Playing Technique,” 23 pages of discussion on the physics and characteristics of the hardingfele, maintenance, and playing technique, plus photographs and diagrams; and “Popular Tunes for the Hardingfele,” transcriptions of 10 well-known gammeldans and bygdedans tunes (Urheimen, Hølje Plassen, Bruremarsj fra Seljord, etc.) from various districts. The CD contains Balchen’s performances of the tunes. Member price: $12.50 / Non-members: $17.50 [M003].

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13 More Popular Tunes for the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle

Manual (15 pages) and CD. Transcriptions of 13 gammeldans and bygdedans tunes from various districts, plus information about the tunes and ornamentation. The CD contains performances of the tunes by Balchen and various other fiddlers, plus Balchen’s extensive comments on the special characteristics of hardingfele music and information about the individual tunes on the CD. Member price: $10 / Non-members: $15 [M004].