Nyckelharpa
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A nyckelharpa (literally "key harp", plural nyckelharpor or sometimes keyed fiddle is a traditional Swedish musical instrument. It is a string instrument or chordophone. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when the key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string.
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[edit] History
The nyckelharpa is similar to both a fiddle and a hurdy gurdy. The oldest indication of nyckelharpa playing is a relief near one of the gates to Källunge church on Gotland from about 1350 showing two fiddles – presumingly nyckelharpor of European origin. Other very early pictures were found in Hildesheim (Germany) and in Siena (Italy). During the 16th and 17th centuries, the ’Schlüsselfidel’ was known in Germany, or at least the ideas comes from there. The Swedish province of Uppland has been a stronghold for nyckelharpa music since the late 16th century, including the 1960s revival which drew on musicians like Byss-Calle (1783-1847) from Älvkarleby.
Changes by August Bohlin (1877-1949) in 1929/1930 made the nyckelharpa chromatic and straight, making it a more violin-like and no longer a bourdon instrument. The best-known modern nyckelharpa player was probably Eric Sahlström (1912-1986), who was a major player, teacher, composer and builder of the mid 20th century. He helped re-popularize the instrument by his playing. In spite of these innovations, the nyckelharpa's popularity declined until the 1960's roots revival.
The nyckelharpa has been a prominent part of several revival groups later in the century, especially the trio Väsen, the more contemporary group Hedningarna, the Finnish folk music group Hyperborea and the Swedish folk music group Dråm.
Since the end of the 20th century the nyckelharpa has become more and more popular, even outside of Sweden and in different music styles. Marco Ambrosini (Italy, Germany) plays the nyckelharpa in early music as well as in contemporary music and, together with the French violin makers Jean-Claude Condi and Annette Osann, he improved the instrument.
[edit] Technique
Traditionally the nyckelharpa is played lying nearly horizontally on the right knee.
Didier Francois, violinist and nyckelharpist from (Belgium) invented a new technique of playing the nyckelharpa. Holding the nyckelharpa vertically in front of his chest, he can move both arms more naturally and relaxed. This improves also the sound of the instrument. Using a violin bracket to keep the nyckelharpa away from the body it can swing freely and sounds more open. Didier Francois was stimulated to this technique by the violin style of Arthur Grumiaux.
[edit] Variants
There are at least four major variants of the nyckelharpa still played today, varying by the number and arrangement of keys, number and arrangement of strings, and general body shape. Modern nyckelharpor have sympathetic strings which are not bowed directly but resonate with the other strings. Early models favored drone strings.
[edit] Trivia
The artwork on the Swedish 50 kronor banknote has a musical theme, the back of the note featuring a nyckelharpa, and the front a portrait of Swedish opera-singer Jenny Lind.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The American Nyckelharpa Association
- International Days of the Nyckelharpa (Germany)
- European Nyckelharpa Training
- Nyckelharpa video - Prelude of the First Cello Suite by Bach at YouTube.
