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 a key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string.
The nyckelharpa is similar in appearance to a fiddle or the bowed Byzantine lira. Structurally, it is more closely related to the hurdy gurdy, both having key actuated tangents used to change the pitch.
History
The oldest known depiction of the nyckelharpa can be found on a relief dating from the 14th century near one of the gates to Källunge church on Gotland[1]. Other very early pictures were found in Hildesheim (Germany) and in Siena (Italy)[citation needed]. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the ’Schlüsselfidel’, or "key fiddle", was known in Germany : the instrument is mentioned in "Theatrum Instrumentorum", a famous work written in 1620 by the german organist Michael Praetorius (1571-1621).[citation needed]. 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[citation needed], making it a more violin-like and less of a bourdon instrument. Composer and nyckelharpa builder Eric Sahlström (1912–1986) helped re-popularize the instrument in the mid 20th century by featuring it in his own songwriting.[citation needed] In spite of this, the nyckelharpa's popularity declined until the 1960s roots revival.
The '60s and '70s saw a resurgence in the popularity of the nyckelharpa, with notable artists such as Marco Ambrosini (Italy, Germany), Sture Sahlström, Hans Gille, and Nils Nordström including the nyckelharpa in both early music and contemporary music offerings. Continued refinement of the instrument also contributed to the increase in popularity, with instrument builders like Jean-Claude Condi and Annette Osann bringing innovation to the bow and body.
In 1990s, the nyckelharpa was recognized as one of the instruments available for study at the folk music department of the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (Kungliga Musikhögskolan).
The nyckelharpa has been a prominent part of several revival groups in the later part of the century, including work from the trio Väsen, the more contemporary group Hedningarna, the Finnish folk music group Hyperborea and the Swedish folk music group Dråm.
Technique
Traditionally, and presently, the nyckelharpa is played with a strap around the neck, stabilized by the right arm. Preferably you play standing, but you hold it exactly the same way when sitting.
Didier François, violinist and nyckelharpist from Belgium, is noted for using a unique playing posture. Holding the nyckelharpa vertically in front of the chest, one is able to move both arms in a more natural and relaxed fashion. The overall tone and sound of the instrument is affected by this non-traditional position. Using a violin bracket to keep the nyckelharpa away from the body so it can swing freely also causes it to sound more "open".
Variants
There are four common variants of the nyckelharpa still played today, varying in the number and arrangement of keys, number and arrangement of strings, and general body shape. The most predominate type is the so-called "chromatic nyckelharpa", with the melody strings tuned A1 - C1 - G, a drone C (from the highest to the lowest string) that is only touched occasionally, and 12 resonance strings (one for each step of the chromatic scale).
The resonance strings, or sympathetic strings, which were added to the instrument during the 2nd half of the 16th century[citation needed], are not bowed directly but resonate with the other strings.
All common variants of the nyckelharpa have one or more drone strings.
See also
References
External links
