Yesterday, I got an email from a Norwegian friend that the all-female fiddle group from Nordfjord, Honndalstausene, had appeared on Norwegian network TV2's morning show, "God morgen Norge!"
The group, which has long been a favorite of mine, includes Synnøve Hjellbakk Hole, Bente Storbakken, Gunnhild Sindre, Gunn Sølvi Gausemel, Tone Lien Dyrkorn, Torunn Raftevold Rue and Marianne Tomasgård. Although the members of Honndalstausene (loosely translated "The Wenches from Hornindal") are spread all over Norway these days, they all grew up in Nordfjord and began playing together as girls.
So this morning I got on to the Internet first thing in the morning and watched the show. They interviewed a couple of the members of the group, including Gausemel who is also the leader of the Baerum Spelmannslag and the folk music archivist for Norwegian National Radio.
While watching the program, I started thinking of how times have changed since my grandparents emigrated from Norway. In those days, it took weeks — even months — for letters to go from Norway to America and back. And today, a friend can send me an email and I can watch a Norwegian television show within minutes!
I have a long ancestral line from Nordfjord and Honndalstausene's CD, Strengeleik, was the first recording of Nordfjord music I bought.
But that's not the only reason I like the group.
The folk music annals of Norway record many, many male fiddlers. So it is refreshing to have a group of women play both forms of traditional Norwegian folk fiddle, the hardingfele and the regular fiddle. Nordfjord is a bit unique because unlike some areas of Norway, it has had a long tradition of using both versions of the fiddle in its music. And Honndalstausene specializes in playing tunes handed down through the female players of the Nordfjord region.
Their sound is distinctive. There aren't many performing groups that have so many fiddles playing. And their playing is so lively and rich and beautifully done, supported and enhanced by the excellent accoompaniment of Arne Sigurd Haugen on guitar and Martin Thue on bass.
Honndalstausene is celebrating 25 years together this year and they just released a new CD, "Gamle Nordfjord" made up of some of the best from past recordings and a few newly recorded tunes.
So happy 25th annivesary to the Wenches of Hornindal! Thanks for making such great music together and bringing such joy.
Honndalstausene music is available through iTunes.
