Fiddle d'Amore
The Story
My own version of Salve Håkedal's beautiful Hardanger d'Amore. These 10-string Fiddle d'Amores (5 playing + 5 sympathetic strings) began to take shape when we were in Ireland at the Baltimore Fiddle Fair in County Cork. How could that NOT happen!? Enveloped by the gorgeous landscapes, and inspiring music, it was bound to!
In the midst of the happenings of this festival, and as we always do, Sophie and I managed to find our own quiet spots to sit, talk, and play music. On the cliffs surrounding the Baltimore Beacon just outside of town, or a lonely little road on Sherkin Island, I was free to let this idea spin round and around.
I had already become interested in Salve's instruments and this trip certainly served to turn that germ into a full-blown obsession. Salve has been kind enough to answer many of my questions and allowed me to drive this idea forward.
I wanted to build an unadorned version of the Hardanger fiddle. An instrument that was simple and spoke for itself.
Many thanks to Salve and to Dave Golber for all the advice and encouragement!
The Instruments
I have so far developed three different models –
* The 9-string Sherkin, with 4 playing strings, and 5 sympathetic understrings.
* The 10-string Baltimore, with 5 playing strings, and 5 sympathetic understrings.
* The 10-string Grande Baltimore, a larger body size, similar to a small viola.
The Sherkin and Baltimore fiddles have a standard violin string length (330mm), while the Grande Baltimore is set slightly longer at (336mm).
Sherkin Island, County Cork, Ireland
