WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS

WMU News

Loberg Codes perform at popular folk festival

Aug. 6, 2004

KALAMAZOO--A Western Michigan University music professor and his wife will present a uniquely Norwegian sound Sunday, Aug. 15, at the popular Great Lakes Folk Festival in East Lansing, Mich.

David Loberg Code, professor of music, and Karin Loberg Code will perform Norwegian folk music from their newly released CD, "Harding Tones." The album features the Harding fiddle, an eight-string folk instrument, sometimes called the national instrument of Norway.

Similar to the violin, each Harding, which is short for Hardanger, or hardingfele in Norwegian, is a work of art. The hand-made instruments are heavily decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay and black pen-and-ink drawings called rosing. Usually the instrument is topped with a carved figure, sometimes of a young woman's head or more frequently an animal, usually a lion.

Traditional cultural treasures of the U.S. Upper Midwest and a sampling of the best of traditional artists from around the country and the world are showcased at the Great Lakes Folk Festival. The free festival is a unique fusion of arts fair, music festival, county fair, multi-ethnic festival, hands-on activity workshops and celebration of cultural heritage.

The Great Lakes Folk Festival is Friday through Sunday, Aug 13-15, in downtown East Lansing. For more information, visit the festival on the Web, <greatlakesfolkfest.net>

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news