“Norwegian Polka” by Julane Lund
Link to Julane Lund website
Julane (née Beetham) Lund is a highly trained violinist who specializes in Norwegian and Norwegian-American folk music, playing both the traditional violin and the Hardanger violin. Lund was born in Wisconsin and was raised in Indiana where she eventually attended Ball State University to study classical violin. She went on to perform with the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra and entered a graduate program in ethnomusicology at Indiana University. In 2001 she moved to Telemark, Norway to attend the Institute for Folk Culture at Telemark University College in Rauland. There she immersed herself in traditional music from both Norway and completed work for her master’s degree by writing a thesis on Norwegian-American old-time fiddling traditions in the Midwest. Julane has collaborated with and learned from many musicians both in Norway and America and has toured extensively throughout America and eastern and western Europe. She has performed with several notable bands from all over the world, including the groups Totak from Norway, the Bashkirian Folk Instrument Philharmonic from Russia, and Alaír from Indiana. Julane is highly recognized for her solo fiddling as well; in 2006 Julane won the Traditional Arts Indiana State Fiddling Contest at the Indiana State Fair. She has performed on several music productions and put out one solo album in 2006 entitled Looking Back at Norwegian-American Old-Time Fiddling in the Heartland.