JOHAN KVANDAL (1919-1999): Quintet for Hardanger Fiddle and String Quartet, Op. 50, SVEN NYHUS (b.1932): Rondo and Fantasies Nos. 1 and 2 for Solo Hardanger Fiddle, JOHAN HALVORSEN (1864-1935): Fossegrimen, Op. 27 (arr. Ingfrid Breie Nyhus [b.1978]).

Description: Aficionados of the Norwegian folk fiddle whose sympathetic strings give it such a silvery and ethereal sound will surely enjoy this program whose fiddler and one of whose composers are fourth- and third generation members of a Hardanger fiddle-playing family. Kvandal’s 12-minute quintet from 1978 employs stylistic elements connected to fiddle and dance music but his tonal language is rather more modern. Nyhus’ 15 minutes’ worth of pieces date from 1979-82 and are fully in the traditional folk-music style. The piano arrangement of Halvorsen’s orchestral original of 1904-05 provides a version for chamber instrumentalists of one of the first works to give the Hardanger fiddle a place in the classical music tradition. Åshild Breie Nyhus (fiddle), Per Kristian Skalstad, Per Sæmund Bjørkum (violins), Anders Rensvik (viola), Audun Sandvik (cello), Ingfrid Breie Nyhus (piano).