Annbjørg Lien (ann'*byorg lee*ehn) is renowned for her work on the hardanger fiddle, both as a player of Norwegian traditional music and as a composer of new pieces.


Her masterful hardanger fiddle playing was introduced to North America on the Sweet Sunny North recordings made in Norway in the early 90s by Henry Kaiser and David Lindley. Two solo records,Felefeber and Prisme on the Shanachie label followed.

Annbjørg's sound is expanding from her Norwegian traditional roots to incorporate Middle Eastern, Irish, and electronic influences. As a member of the Norwegian folk music group Bukkene Bruse ("Billy Goat's Gruff,") Lien toured the United States, Japan, Germany and Spain in 1993 as an official Olympic musician, and performed at the closing ceremony of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994. 

Even as she broadens the scope and reach of her music, Annbjørg Lien remains committed to her native traditions:

"Behind every traditional hardanger fiddle tune there is always a story, always a fairy tale, and you actually tell the stories when you play the fiddle."