Torgeir Augundsson

Torgeir Augundsson(1801–1872) – one of the most famous Norwegian folk musicians, known as Myllarguten [The miller boy]. At the age of eight, he began playing the hardingfele (a kind of violin), cherished as a Norwegian national instrument. Trained in the native tradition, he later developed an advanced playing technique, influenced by the playing of his friend, the violin virtuoso Ole Bull. The latter, meanwhile, after meeting Augundsson, began incorporating Norwegian folk melodies into his performances, thereby helping to increase their popularity.