ARNE ANDERDAL
Godsruta: Tradisjonmusik frå Hallingdal og Hemsedal
Etnisk Musikklubb 81

www.etniskmusikklubb.no
 

Norwegian Arne Anderdal has played the Hardanger fiddle (like a normal fiddle but with four sympathetic drone strings) and investigated the music of the Hallingdal and Memesdal regions for much of his life. Here he presents a number of pieces from the regions, initially solo and then in a small group, including instruments like banjo and dobro not normally heard in Norwegian music, yet showing how similar it can be to some American music (and offering a nice twist on the idea of transatlantic sessions). The solo pieces allow Anderdal to show the real possibilities of the Hardanger fiddle, and he’s certainly a master on the instrument, but the group tunes and songs (like “Brurevise”) break things up and show a different side to the tradition, opening it up even more. What would be really interesting next time around would be an entire album with the group, emphasizing the connections across the ocean between Norwegian and American music, which stands as the eye-opener here. That one could be an absolute revelation.

— Chris Nickson