By Anne-Marije Rook and Theresa Edwards, Intern

Last December, ten-year-old Anika Anderson was awarded the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's Young Student Hardanger Fiddle Loan for 2011.

For one year, Anderson was allowed to use the unique, child-sized hardanger fiddle, made by violin maker Lynn Berg of Eugene, Ore, as her own.

The award not only gave Anderson access to a rare musical instrument, she also received a number of opportunities to play the fiddle for audiences throughout the U.S.  

Originally from Norway, Hardanger Fiddles have eight to nine strings. Four of the strings are played like a standard violin and the extra sympathetic strings run under the bridge and resonate, giving a full, complex sound. Child-sized versions of this instrument are rare.

“Sometimes it can be more challenging than the violin,” said Anderson of the special instrument. “I like how it rings more.”

A student at West Woodland Elementary, Anderson has been playing violin since she was seven, and is a member of theSeattle Lilla Spelmanslag, a Scandinavian folk music group of youth strings players.

Her violin teacher, Martha Levenson, shared a hardanger fiddle with her three years ago, and Anderson applied for the Young Student Hardanger Fiddle Loan last year.

After being awarded the loan of the fiddle, she has taken lessons from Peter Michaelsen, who is a Seattle based musician who specializes in the hardanger fiddle and Scandinavian fiddle.

Anderson expressed being sad that the year was up but was thankful for the great opportunity.

Anderson's time with this instrument is coming to an end in December but locals will have a few more chances to hear her play the instrument before she has to return it.

Anika’s next performance is at Yulefest, with the Seattle Lilla Spelmanslag, at 11 a.m. on November 19 at the Nordic Heritage Museum. She is also performing at the Nordic Heritage Museum on December 4 at 1:00 p.m. and with her mentor Peter Michaelsen at the Skandia Folklore Society’s Jullekstuga dance, at Cedar Valley Grange Hall in Lynnwood on December 16.
 
To read more about Anika’s past year with the hardanger fiddle, visit http://kidhardangerfiddle.blogspot.com/.