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Here's another playlist I tried to search and didn't find here. I spent last Christmas vacation experimenting with viola-length octave violin strings after hearing this. My community orchestra tentatively has the greenlight to play in the fall, but if there's another shutdown, the octave strings are going back on because they were a blast.
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Yeah, initially the lowest note I heard was middle C, but then it goes lower to A or G, so these are violin octave strings, are they? But on a viola, not a violin?
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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The liner notes indicate it's an electric viola tuned down an octave. What I myself have is octave violin strings that fit my 15.5" viola. I thought an E string would make it easier to find free sheet music for fiddle tunes to fool around with.
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Or perhaps all you'd need is an F string on a viola. I think Fiddlershop sells them.
Andrew
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@Heady -
Hey, thanks for bringing this up!
I think it's VERY cool you tried the Octave strings on your Viola!
Mikael Marin used to tune his 5 string Viola down to GDAEB - an octave lower than a 4 string Violin. Then, when he got his 5 string "Violoncello Da Spalla", he was so excited, I wasn't sure he'd ever play the Viola anymore!
Compared to Ånon Egeland's earlier music, sounds like Mikael has influenced him to turn away from his Hardanger - over to the dark side of the tuned-down Viola! I personally like the Marin Egeland "Sorpesoll" album.
A very prolific composer & musician, I always think of Mikael Marin as a vagabond, because he has teamed up & recorded with quite a few other musicians, groups, and Orchestras, e.g., Mia Marine, Ånon Egeland, Mats Edén, Väsen, Livsverket, Nordman, Bowing 9, and more.
Pretty sure I previously posted some of Mikael Marin's videos & info in the 'Vals' and 'Interested in Scandinavian' threads, but there's a lot more on YouTube.
Have you played much Nordic music?
...I'm still thinking about a 5 string Viola or a 6 string Glasser! 😊
- Emily
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Hi. I have not actually played much myself. I did visit cousins in Norway 15 years ago, and they took me to meet a hardinger fiddle maker and I got to hold one and then he played for us 
About a year ago I printed a bunch of pdfs of some tunes, mostly halling because they're my favorite.
I really dug into them this past winter break once I had those octave strings and found notation for a lot of the tunes on this album
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@Heady -
That's nice to know!
I haven't played a Halling, yet. Do you have a favorite?
If you feel like trying your hand at a 'Gånglåt', it would be fabulous if you could join the Party Sharon started!
It's in the Party Room - all you have to do is record yourself playing one and post it in the Gånglåt Party thread.
I have tried my hand at several tunes, one of my favorites I recorded here, after playing violin a little over a year & a half. Still pretty new to playing and recording. (lol)
I've also snuck a few tunes in other Parties, but looking forward to more of your help in promoting this genre!
- Emily
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