Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa
Encyclopedia
Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa was a Norwegian fiddler
and folk music
ian. He was one of the best known Norwegian performers of folk music in the 1900s.
, Hardanger
as the son of fiddler and painter Lars Osa
and children's writer Augusta Sophie Hermine Bernhoft. He spent his first years in Valle, Setesdal
, and moved to Voss
when he was six years old. He was married to Kersti Alice Grambo from 1937, and to Anne Heggtveit from 1950. He died in Voss in 1990.
and Hardingfele
player, and the boy started to play both instruments. He studied violin with Bjarne Brustad
in Oslo, then in Bergen with the academy of Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester
from 1929 to 1930, and in Berlin from 1931 to 1932.
He made his début as violinist in 1937. He started playing for the radio (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) in the 1940s, and recorded more than 350 traditional air
s , either on hardingfele or violin, between 1948 and 1978. His airs were often based on the Voss tradition, from elder fiddlers such as Sjur Helgeland
, Ola Mosafinn
or his own father. He often toured in Norway, Europe and the United States, with conserts or causerie
s.
He composed a concert for hardingfele, Three fjords, in cooperation with Geirr Tveitt
. In the 1970s he cooperated with the rock group "Saft". He published the text book Hardingfela in 1952.
He became Horary Citizen of the U.S. state of Washington in 1968. He received the Arts Council Norway Honorary Award
in 1976. He also received the Spellemannprisen
Honorary Prize.
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
ian. He was one of the best known Norwegian performers of folk music in the 1900s.
Personal life
Osa was born in UlvikUlvik
Ulvik is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality stretches from the Hardangerfjord to 1,800 metres above sea level, and borders the municipalities of Granvin, Eidfjord, Ullensvang, Voss, Aurland, and Hol. It takes around two hours to drive from Bergen to Ulvik. The nearest...
, Hardanger
Hardanger
Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the Hardangerfjord. It consists of the municipalities of Odda, Ullensvang, Eidfjord, Ulvik, Granvin, Kvam and Jondal, and is located inside the county of Hordaland....
as the son of fiddler and painter Lars Osa
Lars Osa
Lars Osa was a Norwegian artist. He also worked with church decoration and restoration and was a noted fiddle player.-Biography:...
and children's writer Augusta Sophie Hermine Bernhoft. He spent his first years in Valle, Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
, and moved to Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
when he was six years old. He was married to Kersti Alice Grambo from 1937, and to Anne Heggtveit from 1950. He died in Voss in 1990.
Career
Osa's father was a skilled violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and Hardingfele
Hardingfele
A Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument used originally to play the music of Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings and thinner wood...
player, and the boy started to play both instruments. He studied violin with Bjarne Brustad
Bjarne Brustad
Bjarne Brustad was a Norwegian composer, violinist and violist. He played with symphonic orchestras in Stavanger and Oslo. In the 1920s he travelled to European cities such as Paris, Munich and Berlin, where he received musical inspiration and contacts...
in Oslo, then in Bergen with the academy of Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway.-History:...
from 1929 to 1930, and in Berlin from 1931 to 1932.
He made his début as violinist in 1937. He started playing for the radio (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) in the 1940s, and recorded more than 350 traditional air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
s , either on hardingfele or violin, between 1948 and 1978. His airs were often based on the Voss tradition, from elder fiddlers such as Sjur Helgeland
Sjur Helgeland
Sjur Helgeland was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and composer from Voss. Among his best known airs is "Budeiene på Vikafjell", composed over the different moods of three dairymaids, the sorrow, joy and happiness, combined with cattle call, lows, wind and bird singing. He was the winner of the...
, Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century....
or his own father. He often toured in Norway, Europe and the United States, with conserts or causerie
Causerie
Causerie is a literary style of short informal essays mostly unknown in the English-speaking world. A causerie is generally short, light and humorous and is often published as a newspaper column . Often causerie is a current opinion piece, but it contains more verbal acrobatics and humor than a...
s.
He composed a concert for hardingfele, Three fjords, in cooperation with Geirr Tveitt
Geirr Tveitt
Geirr Tveitt, born Nils Tveit was a Norwegian composer and pianist. Tveitt was a central figure of the national movement in Norwegian cultural life during the 1930s.-Early years:...
. In the 1970s he cooperated with the rock group "Saft". He published the text book Hardingfela in 1952.
He became Horary Citizen of the U.S. state of Washington in 1968. He received the Arts Council Norway Honorary Award
Norsk kulturråds ærespris
The Arts Council Norway Honorary Award is awarded annually by the Arts Council Norway. The prize is awarded annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to Norwegian art and culture. The prize committee does not solicit nominations and the decision on award is made in closed meeting...
in 1976. He also received the Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
Honorary Prize.
Selected works
- Hardingfela (1952) textbook
- Spelmannsliv (1979) autobiography (with Jostein Mæland)