The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County is pleased to announce a free concert of Hardanger fiddle music on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the Hjemkomst Center at 1pm. Featured performers will Robert “Bud” Larsen, master fiddler and luthier of Brainerd, MN, and Fargo Spelemannslag, a local troupe of players Larsen mentored. The hour-long concert will include Hardanger fiddle history and cultural contexts for songs. The concert will be followed by a reception of Scandinavian goodies. This concert is part of the international commemoration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration to the US.
Hardanger fiddle is the national folk instrument of Norway, and as this region has a large population of Scandinavian descendants, the music, history, and cultural traditions of the instrument are important to provide here.