Arne Bjørndal
Encyclopedia
Arne Bjørndal was a Norwegian hardingfele
fiddler, composer and folklorist.
as the son of Peder Monsen Bjørndal and Kari Knutsdotter Nordås. He was married to Brita Rongved from 1910 to 1924, and to Anna Strømmen from 1929. He died in Bergen
in 1965.
, while he learned theory by W. Gomnæs, Borghild Holmsen
and J. Thorkildsen. He made his concert debut in Kristiania
in February 1908. From 1911 he received a scolarship for collecting traditional music. He wrote down thousands of traditional Norwegian folk melodies, which have later been stored at the University of Bergen
.
He played in more than six hundred weddings, gave more than 1,000 concerts, and had success in folk music contests. Among his compositions is music to Torvald Tu
's "Kjærlege par", music to Olav Gullvåg
's play Storborgbrudlaupet (together with Johan Ludwig Mowinckel). He composed several dance melodies, including "På Ulrikkens topp", and the waltz "Sumarkveld til fjells". Among his publications are Norske Slåttar (from 1907 and onwards), Gamle slåttar, a biography of fiddler Ola Mosafinn
and a book on Ole Bull
. He wrote articles on Myllarguten
and Edvard Grieg
, and co-wrote the book – og fela ho lét with Brynjulf Alver, published in 1966, after his death. He was a music critic for the newspaper Gula Tidend
from 1917 to 1940, and chaired the Norwegian National Association for Traditional Music and Dance
from 1923 to 1936.
He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1954. A relief of Bjørndal, made by sculptor Sofus Madsen, was unveiled in 1973.
Hardingfele
A Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument used originally to play the music of Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings and thinner wood...
fiddler, composer and folklorist.
Personal life
Bjørndal was born in HosangerHosanger
Hosanger is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.-History:The parish of Hosanger was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 ....
as the son of Peder Monsen Bjørndal and Kari Knutsdotter Nordås. He was married to Brita Rongved from 1910 to 1924, and to Anna Strømmen from 1929. He died in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in 1965.
Career
Bjørndal started playing the fiddle as a young boy, and later studied with fiddler Ola MosafinnOla Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century....
, while he learned theory by W. Gomnæs, Borghild Holmsen
Borghild Holmsen
Borghild Holmsen was a Norwegian pianist, music critic and composer. She studied piano with Agathe Backer-Grøndahl and Otto Winter Hjelm, and continued her studies with Carl Reinecke and Salomon Jadassohn in Leipzig and Albert Becker in Berlin...
and J. Thorkildsen. He made his concert debut in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in February 1908. From 1911 he received a scolarship for collecting traditional music. He wrote down thousands of traditional Norwegian folk melodies, which have later been stored at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
.
He played in more than six hundred weddings, gave more than 1,000 concerts, and had success in folk music contests. Among his compositions is music to Torvald Tu
Torvald Tu
Torvald Tu was a Norwegian poet, playwright, novelist and writer of humoresques.He was born in Klepp as a son of farmers. His literary debut was the 1914 play Storbrekkmyri, and his first poetry collection Blomar fraa heid came in 1915. He wrote in Nynorsk with strong hints of his own Jæren dialect...
's "Kjærlege par", music to Olav Gullvåg
Olav Gullvåg
Olav Gullvåg was a Norwegian playwright, novelist, poet and editor.He was born in Trondheim. He worked as editor-in-chief of Søndmøre Folkeblad from 1911 to 1912, Norig from 1912 to 1921 and Gula Tidend from 1921 to 1929...
's play Storborgbrudlaupet (together with Johan Ludwig Mowinckel). He composed several dance melodies, including "På Ulrikkens topp", and the waltz "Sumarkveld til fjells". Among his publications are Norske Slåttar (from 1907 and onwards), Gamle slåttar, a biography of fiddler Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century....
and a book on Ole Bull
Ole Bull
Ole Bornemann Bull was a Norwegian violinist and composer.-Background:Bull was born in Bergen. He was the eldest of ten children of Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden . His brother, Georg Andreas Bull became a noted Norwegian architect...
. He wrote articles on Myllarguten
Myllarguten
Targjei Augundsson , better known as Myllarguten , is arguably the most acknowledged Norwegian folk musician to this day, and by far the most legendary.-Childhood:...
and Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
, and co-wrote the book – og fela ho lét with Brynjulf Alver, published in 1966, after his death. He was a music critic for the newspaper Gula Tidend
Gula Tidend
Gula Tidend is a former Norwegian newspaper. It was established in 1904 by Johannes Lavik, and disestablished in 1996. The newspaper was a proponent for the Nynorsk language in Western Norway, located in Bergen....
from 1917 to 1940, and chaired the Norwegian National Association for Traditional Music and Dance
Norwegian National Association for Traditional Music and Dance
Norwegian National Association for Traditional Music and Dance is a nationwide organization that aims to support the folk music and rural dance tradition in Norway....
from 1923 to 1936.
He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1954. A relief of Bjørndal, made by sculptor Sofus Madsen, was unveiled in 1973.