The fall Great North Woods Committee for the Arts concert series at the Colebrook Country Club kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 with the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. The fiddle trio, from Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Islands, swiftly gained a reputation for their gripping and unique blend of fiddle music.

"If you've never seen a hardanger fiddle played, get ready for a new experience," said GNWCA President Charlie Jordan. A hardanger fiddle (played by Norwegian fiddler Erlend Viken) is very similar in design to a violin, though with eight or nine strings (rather than the standard four) and thinner wood. Four of the strings are strung and played like a violin, while the rest, named understrings, resonate under the influence of the other four. The instrument is often highly decorated, with a carved animal (usually a dragon or the Lion of Norway) or a carved woman's head as part of the scroll at the top of the pegbox, extensive mother of pearl inlay on the tailpiece and fingerboard, and black ink decorations called "rosing" on the body of the instrument. Sometimes pieces of bone are used to decorate the pegs and the edges of the instrument.

Each member of Nordic Fiddlers Bloc is regarded as leading exponents of their respective traditions, they have found themselves in great demand throughout the world. Their clever use of harmony, rhythm, riffs and bass lines creates a sound that leaves the listener enthralled but at the same time amazed that the sound only comes from three fiddles.

The group has received rave reviews from the press as they've toured the globe sharing their unmistakable sound. "I surrender unconditionally to these master musicians," Sweden's Lira Music Magazine said. "Pure fiddle doesn't get much better than The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc," opined FolkWorld. "A shimmering display of accurately pitched, highly skilled musical accomplishment," reviewed The Scotsman.

Co-sponsored by VR Concrete, Inc., tickets are $15 and available at Fiddleheads, 110 Main St., Colebrook, online at www.gnwca.org or at the door. For more information on these and other GNWCA shows, find the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts on Facebook, visit www.gnwca.org, or you can call 237-9302 or 246-8998.


Posted 9/22/17