Norwegian violin music dates back to the country’s traditional folk instrument, the Hardanger fiddle. The oldest surviving fiddle dates from the early 1650s, its construction significantly different to the normal violin. Almost two hundred years later it inspired the violinist Ole Bull to write works based on melodies he heard folk musicians playing on the instrument. Amending a conventional violin, he developed a technique that many thought rivalled Paganini. It was this virtuosity that took him around the world, bringing Norwegian music to international attention. It was largely his influence that led to the delightful and often extremely demanding works that are included on this disc.