Ola Mosafinn
Encyclopedia
Ola Mosafinn was a Norwegian hardingfele
fiddler and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century.
Ola Sjursson was born in Voss
in Hordaland
County, Norway. He was the youngest of five children born to Sjurd Brynjulvsson Liland (1792–1866) and Ingebjørg Klausdotter Mosafinn (1790–1852). He was raised on the Mosafinn farm from which he took has last name. After graduation in 1843 he was first employed as a school teacher, but was also on demand at weddings and parties.
He later went to Hardanger
, where he soon came to thrive. In the summer of 1872, crown prince and future King Oscar II of Sweden
, made a trip to the west coast of Norway and Ola Mosafinn was invited to perform. Later that summer, Mosafinn met famed Norwegian violinist and composer Ole Bull
, who gave the fiddler praise. During the summer of 1879, Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg
visited Voss. Grieg sent for Mosafinn who performed at his birthday celebration. He became well known in Norway and made two tours in the United States. In 1890 and 1891, Mosafinn traveled to the United States
after being invited several times. He played in Chicago
and later in Minneapolis, in addition to some smaller towns.
Only two compositions are known to be have been written by Mosafinn, one of which is Gjætarlokketonar frå Voss. In 1887, his portrait was painted by Norwegian artist Lars Osa
. In 1921, a memorial to Ola Mosafinn was erected in Voss
. The monument is made by Norwegian sculptor Nils Bergslien
. A biography of Mosafinn was written by his former apprentice Arne Bjørndal
and published in 1922.
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 and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century.
Ola Sjursson was born in Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
County, Norway. He was the youngest of five children born to Sjurd Brynjulvsson Liland (1792–1866) and Ingebjørg Klausdotter Mosafinn (1790–1852). He was raised on the Mosafinn farm from which he took has last name. After graduation in 1843 he was first employed as a school teacher, but was also on demand at weddings and parties.
He later went to Hardanger
Hardanger
Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the Hardangerfjord. It consists of the municipalities of Odda, Ullensvang, Eidfjord, Ulvik, Granvin, Kvam and Jondal, and is located inside the county of Hordaland....
, where he soon came to thrive. In the summer of 1872, crown prince and future King Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
, made a trip to the west coast of Norway and Ola Mosafinn was invited to perform. Later that summer, Mosafinn met famed Norwegian violinist and composer 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...
, who gave the fiddler praise. During the summer of 1879, Norwegian composer 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...
visited Voss. Grieg sent for Mosafinn who performed at his birthday celebration. He became well known in Norway and made two tours in the United States. In 1890 and 1891, Mosafinn traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after being invited several times. He played in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and later in Minneapolis, in addition to some smaller towns.
Only two compositions are known to be have been written by Mosafinn, one of which is Gjætarlokketonar frå Voss. In 1887, his portrait was painted by Norwegian artist Lars Osa
Lars Osa
Lars Osa was a Norwegian artist. He also worked with church decoration and restoration and was a noted fiddle player.-Biography:...
. In 1921, a memorial to Ola Mosafinn was erected in Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
. The monument is made by Norwegian sculptor Nils Bergslien
Nils Bergslien
Nils Nilsen Bergslien was a Norwegian illustrator, painter and sculptor. Nils Berglien was a romantic artist, he was inspired both from legends, fairy tales, the history of Norway and the west Norwegian mountain landscape....
. A biography of Mosafinn was written by his former apprentice Arne Bjørndal
Arne Bjørndal
Arne Bjørndal was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler, composer and folklorist.-Personal life:Bjørndal was born in Hosanger 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...
and published in 1922.