Korp-Erik Olson 

Also went by the name   Erick Linde  and Erik Olofsson Linde   
  • Born:  1851. Hassela, Hälsingland, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1908. Settled in Minnesota: Wyanett, Isanti County.
  • Death:   1940  March 17.  Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota.   
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Photo of Korp-Erik.  Family collection. 
Riksspelmannen Thomas von Wachenfeldt with Korp-Eriks fiddle. Sundsvalls Tidning.   July 16, 2005
Erik Olofsson Linde, known as Korp-Erik, was born on November 2, 1851, in Hassela, Gävleborg, Sweden. A legendary fiddler, he had an extensive repertoire and was a sought-after musician for local dances. His talent earned him the honor of performing at the World Exhibition in Stockholm.In 1908, Korp-Erik emigrated from Fiskvik in Bergsjö, Sweden, to Minnesota, bringing his beloved violin across the Atlantic. He was accompanied by five of his children, while his daughter, Katrina Lundstedt, remained in Sweden. Katrina would go on to become a renowned folk musician in her own right.
Life in America was not without hardship. The family endured multiple fires and the devastating loss of several children to illness. Despite these challenges, Korp-Erik continued to play, carrying his musical heritage into his new homeland. Yet, he always longed to return to Sweden.
One of Korp-Erik’s violins eventually made its way back home. In the early 2000s, a distant relative of his granddaughter brought the instrument to the Nordanstig community after a visit to Minneapolis. Carefully restored, it remains playable—a lasting testament to his musical legacy. Another of his violins is preserved at the Swedish-American Institute in Minneapolis.
Beyond his musical talent, Korp-Erik was known for his remarkable strength. Local lore tells of him lifting a massive stone at his childhood home in Styggberg—a feat no one else could match. In 1876, he married Katarina Pålsdotter, and they eventually settled in Fiskvik, Bergsjö, before making the difficult decision to emigrate.

Korp-Erik’s name is often mentioned alongside other great Swedish folk musicians, such as Hultkläppen and Per-Erik Svedin . His legacy endures in Sweden and among Swedish-American communities in Minnesota. The return of his violin after 97 years symbolizes more than just an instrument’s journey—it represents the enduring cultural bridge between Sweden and America.
FUN FACTS: 
  • Korp-Erik's  daughter, Katrina Lundstedt, also known as "Katrina-Korp," was a highly skilled tradition bearer from northern Hälsingland, Sweden, preserving and transmitting folk music through her powerful singing. Despite folk music being historically dominated by male fiddlers, Katrina learned a vast repertoire from her father, and other great musicians of the Hassela area. When no fiddler was available, she and her sister would sing and drum to provide dance music.
    With an exceptional vocal range, keen ear, and strong memory, Katrina mastered intricate polskas and other traditional tunes, keeping them alive throughout her life. Her singing was so rhythmically and melodically precise that listeners could hear every implied string in the melodies. Recognized in the 1950s by Helge Nilsson her repertoire was recorded on film and tape.  Tunes she collected are here on FolkWiki  
Music Links
​Here are tunes that are after the playing of Korp-Erik.  
  • "Snurrebock" is a folk dance that involves twirling (snurre) and bowing (bock)  
  • "Den känns som jag flyger" a beautiful polska that translates to, "It feels like I'm flying"