"The rich, rasping, intense timbre of the Hardanger Fiddle has always attracted me.
The repertoire of the Hardanger Fiddle, as I have learned to play it, has strictly defined structures. However, to a certain extent at minimalist level you are free to vary motifs and to add colour through ornamentation, and I think it these elements that have made me feel that playing airs is a natural mode of musical expression for me."
Anne Hytta (born 1974) is among the foremost performers of the Hardanger Fiddle, a special fiddle with sympathetic strings and its own repertoire of traditional tunes. Through her work with musicians from other Folk Music Traditions and from involvement in Medieval Music Ensembles she has developed her own style that enables her to use elements from the hardanger violin playing style in new constellations, and she is thus a sought-after musician for musical projects involving creative work, improvisation and composing.
Her main focus in addition to her solo work includes the trio SLAGR. They founded in 2003, and released their debut album Solaris in 2007. She has composed and performed two commission concerts with SLAGR, and parts of the last commission work will be represented on their next album to be released spring 2010. SLAGR has ensemble grants from Culture Council Norway.
As a result of her interest in and knowledge about modal traditional music, she has been part of lots of collaborations with musicians from other folk music traditions, including countries like Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tanzania, Romania, Greece, Sweden, France, England and Brazil.
In 2006 and 2007 Anne Hytta received the Government Grants for younger artists. Currently she is receiving the Government Grants for composers, writing music for her own projects as well as a contemporary String Quartet.
Her solo album “dag, kveld, natt” (”day, evening, night”) is an album containing three landscapes of sonorous sounds from the Hardanger violin. The bright light – day, the shadows – evening, and the dark – night, is represented on the record through three different ways of tuning the fiddle, which illuminate different harmonies and sounds. She received the Norwegian Folk Music Award for best solo album in 2006.
Anne writes and performs music with the trio Slagr . In addition to herself, Sigrun Eng plays the cello and Amund Sjølie Sveen plays vibraphone. Slagr released their Debut Album "Solaris" November 2007 to great reviews.
She is also a member of SYM with French nyckelharpist Eléonore Billy and English nyckelharpist Clare Salaman. They all compose music for the trio, and released their album "Symbiosis" spring 2008.
Heeeey, Anne - it’s been a while :) - and how are you, hope things are good, are they?... Listen, I have a favor to ask you, could I? Since my picture won at the monthly level & Round 1, I got nominated for the LongHair Hawtie of the Year. Round 2 ends in a few days and... - was hoping for those 6 votes from you ;)
So... this is where you would cast a vote. Yeah, you do need to get accepted as a friend before you can vote, but they’re nice girls (the hawtie folks), no harm whatsoever :) http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=188240006&albumId=1967536
Just look for my profile picture on the last row
Thank you so much already, In appreciation, - Armand
PS. a very 'evil' thought - maybe you can tell your friends to vote too? ;)
I had a chance today to visit your page and listen more to your playing. The sound of your fiddle is so wonderful! Also, thanks for sending me the information about the Hardanger fiddle and its various tunings. Best regards, Stan
Anne, I am fascinated by the wonderful sound of your fiddle. Just recently, I started exploring early instruments, and composed new music for the viola d'amore - another instrument with sympathetic strings. I would love to find out more about your Hardanger fiddle - how is it tuned? how many strings?
I loved listening to the samples on your page - and look forward to hearing more music from you!
Anne writes and performs music with the trio 
She is also a member of 
