TapRoot Sessions: Nordic Fiddlers Bloc Workshop and Concert
Dewey Hall, 91 Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257
Monday, April 17th
Workshop: 6:00pm-7:15pm
Concert: 8:00pm-9:15pm
Contact: taprootsessions@gmail.com, 413 429 1176
REFRESHMENTS available (pizza by the slice)
Tickets:
$25 for workshop
$25 for concert
$40 for both
TapRoot Sessions produces concerts featuring traditional music. Join us for the workshop, concert, or both!
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
This workshop will focus on the three distinct fiddle styles of Norway, Sweden and Shetland.
You will learn a tune from each region by ear and you will also get an insight to bowing and ornamentation which is an important part of any fiddle style.
This workshop is best suited to intermediate and above.
ABOUT THE CONCERT
The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc
The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc is a fiddle trio that masterfully blends the traditions of Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Islands. Olav Luksengård Mjelva (Norway), Anders Hall (Sweden) and Kevin Henderson (Shetland Islands), have swiftly gained a reputation for their gripping and unique blend of fiddle music since the inception of the Bloc in early 2009. They maintain a firm focus on the traditions of their home while developing a sound that has been described as “meaningful”, ”intense” and “invigorating”. Their clever use of harmony, rhythm, riffs & bass lines creates a sound that leaves the listener enthralled but at the same time dumbfounded that the sound only comes from three fiddles. Their third and most recent album “Bonfrost” has gathered numerous reviews and is said to by Folk Radio UK to “leap out of the speakers and demand attention, keeping the energetic and creative levels up throughout its twelve tracks. It will be a constant visitor to your ears and heart once you surrender to its many charms.”
“Seldom before can three fiddlers have sounded so well matched as the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. And seldom before can three fiddles have sounded so much like four and at times five instruments without using electronic trickery.” – The Herald
Kevin Henderson, Fiddle
In addition to performing, Kevin is in great demand for leading workshops and classes throughout the world.
He is a regular teacher at Harald Haugaards International Fiddle School held in Germany every summer and has also been teaching at Haralds camp in Wisconsin, Alisdair Fraser’s camp at Sierra, Fiddle Frenzy in Shetland where Kevin will be the curator from 2019 and in addition was an “artistic leader” at the Ethno music camp in sweden from 2006 - 2010 where the role oversees the teaching, arranging and performance of the music taught throughout the week from many different folk music cultures found throughout the world.
Kevin also teaches privately and has teaching experience of nearly 20 years.
Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Fiddle / Hardanger Fiddle
Olav has been working as a professional musician since 2010 and he has been teaching at countless workshops and several camps all over the world the past 20 years. He is also a founder of the youth folk band in his hometown Røros, and has also been a leading figure in teaching younger hardanger fiddlers in Hallingdal.
On the regular fiddle he usually focuses on the traditional music from the Røros region. On the hardanger fiddle the focus is on the traditional music from Hallingdal. Photo by: Tommy Dalbakk
Anders Hall, Fiddle
Anders is one of the top fiddler from Sweden. He usually focus on tunes from his home region Hälsingland and its rich fiddle tradition. But he also has a wide repertoire of the traditional music from the whole scandinavian peninsula. He has long experience in teaching. Both “fiddle to fiddle” and big ensembles with a variety of instruments. Anders always teaches by ear and don't use written music in his classes.
