Austmannsspel, Slåtter Under Norefjell

EM33 / 2008

Musikken på denne debut-CD presenterer eldre slåttestoff og runddansslåtter fra Christian Borlaug sin hjemkommune og fra to nabokommuner. Det har knapt har vært gitt ut slåtter fra Krødsherad og Sigdal før. Fra Ringerike har det aldri blitt utgitt hardingfelestoff. Krødsherad er ei slåtterik bygd der det har vært mye aktivitet på folkemusikkfronten med mange gode spelemenn. Impulser gikk veien fra vestlandet over til det store Bragernes-markedet i Drammen der, og driftekarer og andre stoppa gjerne i Krødsherad for hvil og overnatting. Med disse fulgte det ofte også musikk og spelemenn. Albumet presenterer en tradisjon som var sterk, men som nå ligger nede når det gjelder folk som bruker musikken. Hovedprofilen på denne utgivelsen er kryllingspel.Når det gjelder runddans på solo hardingfele, så har nok dette vært vanlig i mange bygder i Buskerud og spesielt kanskje i midtfylket. CD’en viser derfor litt av runddansdelen innen hardingfeletradisjonen. Dette er en «glemt» tradisjon fra i Ringerike som er definert som et «hvitt område» på folkemusikkartet. Dette stemmer altså ikke. Med denne produksjonen rykker grensen for hardingfelas utbredelse enda noen mil østover. Nesten ingenting av dette stoffet har blitt dokumentert på en CD før.

ENG
Austmannsspel – Traditional Hardanger fiddle music from Krødsherad, Sigdal and Ringerike.

The intention of this CD-production is to provide a peek-hole into the Hardanger fiddle tradition in the Krødsherad, Sigdal and Ringerike counties of central, eastern Buskerud province in southern Norway. The district can boast of a wealth of Hardanger fiddle tunes and tradition going back to the 1700’s. Up until now, very little of this repertoire has been available on CD.

The Hardanger fiddle tradition presented on this CD, although clearly influenced by playing styles of Telemark and other neighboring regions, is unique to this part of Buskerud. The region has been frequented by traders passing through on their way to markets in Eastern Norway, and has therefore been subjected to many different influences. It is typical for tunes to have short, precise forms. Melodious and clear structural development is also a common quality among tunes here.

Truls Ørpen (1880–1958) is the most famous among Hardanger fiddlers of Krødsherad. His eager devotion to recording and transcribing music tunes, as well as writing down stories, is now recognized as an invaluable contribution to preserving the area’s music heritage. Harald Modalen (1918–1996), from Ringerike, was a significant bearer of his regional tradition and had a great deal of knowledge about the unique old-time dance (waltz, polka etc.) fiddling in his region. The fiddle music of Sigdal has been well nurtured in recent years, due to numerous fiddlers and continuity in recruiting of new players. Nils Stubberud (1921–1996) and Steinar Strøm (b.1968) have been important influences here.

About the fiddler
Christian Borlaug (b.1973) grew up in Haugsbygd in Ringerike county, Buskerud province. His grandfather and several of his grandfather’s brothers were fiddlers, as were numerous others in his family’s history. Today, Christian is among the top Hardanger fiddlers of Norway. Already at the age of 21, he qualified for elite-class in the Norwegian fiddle competition system. He now has broad experience as a professional musician and has played countless concerts and performances over the years. Performing has frequently taken him outside of Norway, from the USA in the west, to Japan in the east. He has participated in numerous competitions, won many first prizes and been awarded many honors.

Christian’s most influential teachers have been Svein Lien of Tinn, Telemark, and Hauk Buen, also of Telemark. Thus it is no surprise that Telemark fiddling composes the largest part of his repertoire. Christian currently works as a free-lance musician and fiddle instructor, and is responsible for the music archives at the Folk Music Center for Buskerud province.