Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland
- Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland
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. There he, together with his brother Knut Gunnarsson Helland, started the Helland Brothers fiddle maker workshop in 1905 . His brother died in 1920 and Gunnar ran "Helland Brothers" alone until he closed down in 1927, since the demand for Hardanger fiddles was declining.
In 1927 Gunnar moved to Minneapolis and spent two years working for Jacob Lundh, a well-known violin maker there.In 1929 he moved to Fargo, North Dakota where he operated a shop in a few neighbouring buildings until he established the Helland Music Company on the third floor of a building on Broadway.The business remained there until 1962, when it was bought by Lloyd Hammond. Gunnar continued to work for Lloyd Hammond until he was over 80.Gunnar built his last Hardanger fiddle in 1937.
On his later fiddles he made some interesting changes: Laminanions inside the sound holes for increased strength, shorter sound holes, a lower profile and a pattern that was much closer to the Guarneri del Gesu (Robert "Bud" Larsen).
In all his life, although he built around 300 fiddles, he never got more than $150 for one. Today they sell for 7,000 to 15,000, and even more.
See also
* The Helland fiddle maker family
External links
* [http://internettforlaget.no/helland/ The Helland fiddle maker family]
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John Gunnarsson Helland — Jon Gunnarsson Helland (1897 1977) was a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker from Bø in Telemark.John Gunnarson Helland, the fourth of the five Gunnarsson Helland brothers, began his work in his father, Gunnar Olavsson Helland s workshop and then… … 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
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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 … Wikipedia
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