38. Nyckelharpa

(This post is out of order because I intended to write it several weeks ago but I got distracted.)

The other week we went to the Carmel Bach Festival to hear the program put together by violinist Edwin Huizinga, "Nordic Folklore." It featured (most prominently) Edwin, his Fire & Grace partner, Bill Coulter, on guitar, and a third player—let's call him Joy: Fire, Grace & Joy—Olov Johansson, on nyckelharpa. 

As the printed program describes it: 

The nyckelharpa, often called the "keyed fiddle," is a traditional Swedish instrument with a history that stretches back over 600 years. Its name comes from the Swedish words nyckel (key) and harpa (an old term for stringed instruments). Played with a short bow and operated by pressing keys that change the pitch of the strings, the nyckelharpa produces a haunting, resonant tone enriched by sympathetic strings that vibrate along with the melody—much like a viola d'amore or a Hardanger fiddle.

The earliest known image of the nyckelharpa appears in a 14th-century church carving in Gotland, Sweden, and written references begin to appear around the same time. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, various forms of keyed fiddles were played in different parts of Europe. However, it was in Sweden—particularly in the Uppland region north of Stockholm—that the instrument evolved and survived into the modern era.

By the 17th century, the nyckelharpa had taken on a more recognizable form, but its popularity declined in the 18th and 19th centuries as new musical tastes and instruments took hold. It wasn't until the 20th century, through the efforts of folk musicians and instrument makers like August Bohlin and Eric Sahlström, that the nyckelharpa experienced a revival. Modern versions of the instrument—typically with 16 strings (3 melody, 1 drone, and 12 sympathetic)—are now used in a variety of musical styles, from Swedish folk to early music and contemporary classical compositions.

Today, the nyckelharpa is experiencing a true revival, both in Sweden and abroad. Among those who took up Salhström's mantle is Olov Johansson, considered by many to be the finest living practitioner of the nyckelharpa. 

Here are a few videos about and featuring the nyckelharpa. Starting with a basic introduction to the instrument:

And here the nyckelharpa and violin are compared:

Finally, here is Olov, playing a very short polska (polonaise) that he wrote (he loves polskas):

And as it turns out, I have known Olov's playing for years—with the Swedish folk group Väsen, of which I have several (of their 18) recordings. Here is a Tiny Desk Concert they performed a few years ago:

It was delightful to meet Olov in person, and to experience his Joy.