Myllarguten
Myllarguten was born in Sauherad. His nickname, which means “the Myllar boy” was a result of his father's surname, Møller. He came from a poor family, which lived in difficult and precarious circumstances. Myllarguten started playing the Hardanger fiddle from the age of five, and in due course he became a sought-after musician for parties. He travelled around the whole region, gaining inspiration from the many great musicians he met. In 1831 he met Ole Bull in Bergen, who was very impressed with his playing. Many years later, in 1849, Bull organised a concert at Logen in Kristiania, as Oslo was called in those days, with Myllarguten as the main attraction. The concert was a success, and Myllarguten gained a large following. But towards the end of the 1850s, his luck turned. The national romantic period was reaching its end, and interest for “traditional” music was fading away with it.
Myllarguten settled in western Telemark, and at the age of around 30 he married Ingebjørg Eddanshaugen from Edland. They had ten children in all, three of whom died in infancy. Kosi is the cotter’s farm where Myllarguten spent his final, lonely years, and where he died in poverty.
Taken from vest-telemark.museum.no