Own Medicine

46 Replies
PHOTO PROMPT © Amanda Forestwood

Edvard had the sound in his head, but how was he to get it onto parchment?  The Norwegian Hardanger fiddle had five resonant strings that gave a sparkle to every note, picking up the harmonics of the melody and amplifying it in a way to create an ethereal fairytale effect.

To ensure he had the sound just right, he invited a group of folk musicians to an early rehearsal of his incidental music for the folktale inspired play.

At the end, a stony-faced man turned to him and said, “It is pretty good, but perhaps a bit fast.”

Edvard smiled.

***

A few comments – the instrument in the photo is a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. Besides the inlays in the wood, you can see the difference between a violin with all of those tuning pegs – besides the four violin strings, there are four (as in this case) or five resonant strings.

Edvard Grieg was highly influenced by Norwegian folk music. He tried to recreate the sound of traditional instruments, including the Hardanger fiddle. This can really be seen in the incidental music he wrote for the play “Peer Gynt”.

Liszt was a champion of Grieg. One time when they met, Liszt sight played Grieg’s piano concerto, including an on-the-spot transcription of the full orchestra along with the solo piano part! Hint, no other pianist could sight read an orchestral score, and the piano solo on its own was difficult for most pianists. After the applause of Liszt’s small audience died down, Grieg suggested that he had played the first movement a little faster than it should have been…

OK, it took more words to explain the joke than to tell it ;)

***

word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by  Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo by @ © Amanda Forestwood. If you want to join or see other stories, go to the inlinkz linkup.

46 thoughts on “Own Medicine”

      1. Forestwood

        I see that you have researched well, Trent and it is indeed a Hardanger fiddle. A beautiful instrument with a special sound. While I am not completely enamoured with violin music, I do love the sound Hardanger fiddle. I so enjoyed your story and the added joke around Grieg’s music! Very cool, Trent. It has been so interesting reading everyone’s interpretations of the photo prompt.

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Thanks. I was about 90% sure this was your photo, but I am not sure how many times I have seen your first name, so wasn’t 100%. I did watch a few videos and really liked the sound, though I know videos can never reproduce hearing it live. In one video, the woman played a little bit of Peer Gynt, which is what started the story….
          I am sure it has been fun seeing different people’s take on it. I think only one other person came up with the correct instrument, though they used the name as a character’s name…

          Liked by 1 person

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    2. Forestwood

      Yes indeed, Granonine. The Hardanger region of Norway is rich in cultural traditions. In costume, embroidery (which is tricky if you miss a stitch) and , music and art. Do you embroider yourself?

      Liked by 2 people

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        1. Forestwood

          Oh I know what you mean by one missed stitch messing up an entire pattern. It happened to me and I didn’t realize until I got right around the square motif… eek! I need magnifying reading glasses so that it wouldn’t happen again.

          Liked by 2 people

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. I am sure he was mentioned often – he is most likely the best known composer to come out of Norway. Even people who never listen to classical music have heard some of his music…

      Like

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  7. Bill

    When I saw the prompt pic, I looked up types of violins (8 tuning pegs?). I used “Hardingfele.”

    Great story, Trent. Your backstory added to what I found on line. Thanks. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It’s funny, we now think of classical musicians as squares, but in the 18th and 19th century they were often the radicals And, yeah, some of them did have a great sense of humor :)

      Liked by 1 person

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