Sons of Norway Granlund Lodge Announces Special Guests for March 14 Meeting

Bud and Marlys Larsen, of Brainerd, MN, will present an exciting program featuring Bud’s handcrafted Hardanger fiddles. The Hardanger fiddle is often called the national instrument of Norway and gets its name from the Hardanger region of Norway where it originated in the 17th century. It is similar to a violin but there are many differences. The Hardanger fiddle is longer and is highly decorated with mother of pearl and ivory inlaids and some have drawn decorations on the surface. In Norwegian it is called "ros tegning”. In addition, what really sets apart the Hardanger fiddle is the sound created by four understrings. Larsen says, “The sound is more layered. With regular violins you will hear two strings at once, just once in a while but with Hardanger fiddles it is all the time. There are very few parts of the music that are played just on one string.”

Robert "Bud" Larsen is an American craftsman and maker of Hardanger fiddles. Larsen's father, Herman Larsen, played violin and Hardanger fiddle and emigrated from Førde, Sunnfjord, Norway. Bud lived for many years on the farm by Mandan, ND, and then in Fargo, North Dakota. While a student at MSUM in Moorhead, Bud worked in Gunnar Helland’s shop in Fargo, restoring and repairing violins. Gunnar was one of Herman’s friends and was an instrument maker, revered among groups like the “Hardanger Fiddle Association of America”. Bud learned many skills from Gunnar as they built guitars, mandolins and other instruments.

Bud and Marlys spent 20 years on the mission field with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua, New Guinea, where they worked with the Orokaiva people to translate the New Testament into their language. Currently Bud and Marlys live in a log cabin with a grass roof by Brainerd, MN. In his basement workshop, Bud builds and restores Hardanger fiddles and other instruments for customers nationwide. They have performed in dozens of music fests including the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in Moorhead, and several Sons of Norway lodges.

In addition to the upcoming Sons of Norway program, where they will display and perform their instruments, there is a bonus!  Bud says, “If anyone has a violin to bring or show, or fix up, bring them along!  I can give them an idea of what needs repair, evaluate it, and give them an estimate to fix it.  They can bring any stringed instrument for an evaluation.”

The Sons of Norway meeting begins at 6:30 at the Embassy Center in Fosston on Thursday, March 14.  The public is invited to see the display and hear Bud and Marlys Larsen and their Hardanger fiddles at 7:30.