We are premiering Ørjan Matre’s new concerto, written for Ragnhild Hemsing.
In Composer-in-residence Ørjan Matre’s new concerto for Hardanger fiddle and violin, Ragnhild Hemsing alternates between the two instruments.
As a performer, Ragnhild Hemsing is truly unique. She is just as at home with the Hardanger fiddle in the Norwegian folk music tradition as she is with the violin in the classical realm. For our composer-in-residence, Ørjan Matre, this presented a golden opportunity to tailor-make something entirely new.
"To the best of my knowledge, a concerto for violin and Hardanger fiddle has never been written before," he says, noting that Ragnhild will switch instruments several times during the performance. "The concerto is titled Attmed [Alongside], because, in a way, these are two solo concertos positioned side by side."
The work consists of a single continuous movement, yet the musical expressions in which the violin and Hardanger fiddle revel are vastly different: "The violin solo is quite Romantic in character, whereas the Hardanger fiddle section is partly based on traditional slått playing."
Ørjan views himself as a guest in the world of folk music, yet he emphasizes his deep respect for the tradition and its practitioners. After Ragnhild commissioned the work in 2019, she gave him lessons on the Hardanger fiddle, enabling him to make the most of the instrument's capabilities:
"There is immense resilience and enduring quality in Norwegian folk music. These are polished diamonds, music to which I personally feel a strong connection. If I were to take music with me to a desert island, it would have to be something by Bach, alongside solo music for the Hardanger fiddle."
