The Helland fiddle maker family

The Helland fiddle maker family

The Helland family from Bø in Telemark is a Norwegian dynasty of Hardanger fiddle makers who made the most significant and important contribution to the development of the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle tradition. The celebrated Norwegian fiddler Ole Bull played on Helland fiddles.

During nearly 200 years and 4 generations the family counted 14 fiddle makers. Many of them among the most important in the fiddle maker tradition in Norway. It may well be the largest fiddle maker family in history.

From Bø in Telemark to Notodden, Skien and Wisconsin

Olav Gunnarson Helland settled in Notodden, Telemark, Norway in 1896 and established a Hardanger fiddle workshop. His fiddles are considered among the finest within the tradition.

Knut Gunnarsson Helland and Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland emigrated to US in 1901 and settled in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where they became well known ski jumpers. The opened a fiddle workshop, “Helland Brothers” together. Knut died in 1920 and his brother Gunnar continued the business until 1927.

John Gunnarson Helland settled in Skien, Telemark, Norway and ran a workshop and a music shop until his death in 1977.

The other fiddle makers continued their work in Bø until the last, Knut Knutsson Steintjønndalen died in 1969.

The family 1790-1977

"Note on Norwegian names: The second link reads "Jons son" (i.e. The son of Jon), or "Eriks daughter". The third link is a family name, derived from the farm where they lived, or originated from.
*Jon Eriksson Helland (1790 – 1862)
** Erik Jonsson Helland (1816 – 1868)
*** Jon Eriksson Helland II (1849 – 1869)
*** Knut Eriksson Helland (1851 – 1880)
*** Gunnhild Eriksdatter Helland (1851 – 1907) married Gunnar Olavsson Helland (1852 –1938). "Gunnar took family name from the farm he got by marriage
**** Olav Gunnarsson Helland (1875 –1946)
**** Knut Gunnarsson Helland (1880 –1920)
**** Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland (1889 –1976)
**** John Gunnarsson Helland (1897 –1977)
** Eilev Jonsson Steintjønndalen (1821 – 1876) - "took family name of the farm he got by marriage
*** Jon Eilevsson Steintjønndalen (1845 – 1902)
*** Knut Eilevsson Steintjønndalen (1850 – 1902)
**** Knut Knutsson Steintjønndalen (1887-1969)
** Gunleik Jonsson Helland (1828 – 1863)

ources, all in Norwegian

* «Bø-Soga, 1 Kultursoga» ("Bø Local history, volume 1 Cultural history).
* «Bø-Soga, 2 Gards og ættesoge, volume 4» ("Bø Local history, volume 4 farm and family history).
* Steinar Kyvik: «Soga om fela» Fonna forlag, 1946. ("The Story of the Fiddle)
* John Gunnarson Helland: «Felemakerslekten Helland» ("Helland, the fiddle maker family) (1954). Private, short paper.
* Olav Gunnarsson Helland, letters
* Åsmund Nyhammer: «Hardingfele i fire slektledd.» ("«Hardanger fiddle in Four Generations) Article and intewiev in the newspaper Bergens Arbeiderblad Oct. 5. 1963
* Asbjørn Storesund: «Bøherad, hardingfelas Cremona» in «Spel og Dans» ("The Bø region: The Cremona of the Hardanger Fiddle in play and dance) 1988 p. 57-71, Halvard Kaasa, editor.
* "Morgenbladet", Christiania, Thursday, July 15th, 1852

External links

* [http://www.internettforlaget.no/helland/felealder.htm How old is the hardanger fiddle?]
* [http://www.internettforlaget.no/helland/index.htm The Helland fiddle maker family]


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  • Helland Brothers — was a fiddle makers shop in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA, 1905 1927.The workshop was founded in 1905 by the brothers Knut Gunnarson Helland and Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland from Bø in Telemark. They emigrated to America in 1901 and made both… …   Wikipedia

  • Gunleik Jonsson Helland — maker from Bø in Telemark.Gunleik (the name was written both ways) Helland, son of the first fiddlemaker at Helland cotters farm, worked several years in his father s workshop until he left Bø and went to Horten, Norway and became a steam machine …   Wikipedia

  • Gunnar Olavsson Helland — Gunnar Olavsson Helland, (1852 – 1938), was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark. Gunnar Olavsson Haugen came from a family of woodcarvers. He married the twin sister of Knut Eriksson Helland, Gunnhild, in 1871 (Knut was married …   Wikipedia

  • Jon Eriksson Helland — (1790 1862) (born Jon Eriksson Hellos) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark. Jon Eriksson Helland was the first of the Helland family fiddle making tradition in Bø. His name was originally Jon Eriksson Hellos, and he was… …   Wikipedia

  • Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland — (1889 1976) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark, Norway.Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland Helland worked in his father Olav Gunnarsson Helland s workshop until he emigrated to USA in 1901 and settled in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.… …   Wikipedia

  • Knut Gunnarsson Helland — Knut Gunnarsson Helland, (b.1880 d.1920) Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark, Norway.Knut Gunnarson Helland worked for a number of years with his brother, the hardanger fiddle maker Olav Gunnarsson Helland in Notodden. At the age …   Wikipedia

  • Erik Jonsson Helland — (1816 1868) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark.He was the eldest son of the Hardangerfiddle maker Jon Eriksson Helland.As time went on, Erik Jonsson Helland began to specialize in making Hardangerfiddles and gained… …   Wikipedia

  • Olav Gunnarsson Helland — (b. 1875 d. 1946), Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark. He was the eldest of Gunnar Olavsson Helland s five sons, four of whom became violin makers. He showed great talent even in his younger days and worked with his father for… …   Wikipedia

  • Knut Eriksson Helland — Knut Eriksson Helland, (1851 1880) Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark, Norway.Knut Eriksson Helland was the youngest son of Erik Jonsson Helland. He began to work in his fathers workshop at an early age, and showed great skill,… …   Wikipedia

  • Jon Eriksson Helland II — Jon Eriksson Helland (1849 1869) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark.The eldest son of Erik Jonsson Helland, Jon died only 20 years of age. He was considered very gifted, and his father had great expectations for him, as… …   Wikipedia

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