Olaf G. Helland - berømt felemakar og musikkhandlar på Notodden

Abstract

Olaf Gunnarson Helland from Bø in Telemark was one of Norway's most famous makers of Hardanger fiddles. He was fourth generation of the Hel-land-Steintjønndalen family, who for about 150 years held a dominant po-sition in the making of Hardanger fiddles in Norway. Olaf Helland developed and improved his instruments, which came to acquire a partic-ular sound.They have been sought after by many of the best Hardanger fiddle players, and still are. Olaf Helland also was a first-class wood carver and decorative painter. For fifty years he had his workshop and music shop at Notodden in Telemark, and the present article gives a detailed description of what was special about his instruments and how they are suited for spe-cial types of playing. The article also provides information of Olaf Helland's business activity, and how it contributed to the music culture during the early decades of the twentieth century.