Bergamot Quartet, composed of faculty artist Sarah Thomas (BM ’17, MM, ’19, Violin), and alumni Ledah Finck (BM ’16 , Violin, MM ’18, Violin & Composition) and Irene Han (MM ’18 , Cello), has released 6 new Hardanger string quartet videos as part of Project Resonance, their collaboration with composer/fiddler Dan Trueman. Project Resonance is a multifaceted collaborative endeavor between Bergamot and Trueman, with the Hardanger fiddle music of Norway at its center. Bergamot Quartet plays a set of four Hardanger instruments made by Lynn Berg, one of the only sets of its kind in the world. Under the auspices of Project Resonance, Bergamot and Trueman are creating new repertoire for the quartet of instruments, working with both traditional tunes and experimental/modern musical language, as well as recording, touring, commissioning, and providing a variety of educational opportunities. “Resonance” speaks not only to the five sympathetic strings on each Hardanger instrument which give them their unique sound, but to Trueman and Bergamot’s pursuit of discovering the ways in which the project can resonate across folk traditions, modes of performing, and beyond.
Additionally, this video release includes interviews of Trueman making an exciting announcement about Project Resonance’s next phase—the creation of a Hardanger d’Amore quartet. This quartet will be the first and only one of its kind and will include the first ever 5-string Hardanger d’Amore cello, offering a range of new expression and compositional possibilities that will greatly expand the scope of Project Resonance for creating repertoire, recording, touring, commissioning, and educating.