Ola Håstabø 200 years

This year would have marked the 200th anniversary of Ola Håstabø’s birth! Hardanger Spelemannslag (Hardanger Folk Musicians’ Association) and Hardanger Folk Museum, together with several other partners, will celebrate the occasion with a series of events over the weekend of 13–14 November.

Concert and exhibition on Friday – Trudvang, Granvin

On Friday, 13 November, a concert celebrating Ola Håstabø will take place at Trudvang at 8:00 pm, featuring Åse Teigland, Svein Laingen Kjerland, Jonas Laupsa, Anna Margrethe Emmerhoff, Alexander A. Røynstrand, Åsmund N. Røynstrand and Hardanger Spelemannslag.

Hardanger Folk Museum will present an exhibition about Ola Håstabø.

Tickets available at the door:

• Members of Hardanger Spelemannslag: NOK 250

• Non-members: NOK 300

• Under 16s: Free

From 9:30 pm: Pub at Jaunsen.

Competition and dancing on Saturday – Trudvang, Granvin

12:00 pm: Chocolate fiddle competition (Sjokoladekappleik)

1:00 pm: Hardanger fiddle competition at Trudvang (food and drinks available for purchase).

To register, email pamelding@hardingfolk.no.

From 6:00 pm: Dancing at Trudvang.

Ola Håstabø

Ola Håstabø (1826–1899) was a Norwegian fiddler from Hardanger. He came from Løfloten under Håstabba, which is also the name by which the farm is known. Løfloten is located close to Kvanndal. More than 30 tunes associated with Håstabø have survived, either composed by him or passed on by him in his own distinctive versions. He shaped the tune Spelar-Guro, which he learned from Nils Rekve, as well as the bridal tune from Isak Rokne. Spelar-Guro was named after his wife, whose name was Guro. The tune is also known as Fjøllmanngjenta.

In his later years, Håstabø lived at Hamre. It is known that he played an Isak fiddle dating from 1751. Håstabø learned much of his playing from Nils Rekve and was one of his regular pupils. He also associated with Per Bulko and Nils Reiseter. He welcomed and played together with fiddlers from Telemark as well. Ola Mosafinn stayed at Løfloten in 1850 and learned a number of tunes from Ola. Håstabø had several other pupils, including Nils Tjoflot, whom he considered one of the finest, and Halldor Meland. Another pupil was Per Kjepso (1873–1925).