DEVIL'S INSTRUMENT, THE

THE DEVIL’S INSTRUMENT explores the history, lore, craft and haunting music of the eight-string Hardanger fiddle, as well as the dances that accompany it as practiced in present-day Norway. Religious leaders in the 19^th century called the fiddle “The Devil's Instrument,” since it was often played at weddings, dances and gatherings where food, drink and merriment ensued – and it continues to play a social role in Norwegian culture today. Set against a backdrop of the striking scenery of Norway, the documentary interviews the woodworkers who carry on the fiddle-making tradition, the passionate musicians who play the instrument, and the dancers who spin to its tunes.