Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?

Subject: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:23 AM

I'm just curious if any 'Catters have owned/own or played/play the Swedish nyckelharpa. It has a most haunting sound as this clip demonstrates.

I've been contemplating acquiring a hurdy-gurdy - which is a related instrument - but this appeals more and prices tend to be less crunching!

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:26 AM

open mike does
Do a forum search and you will find more threads.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:27 AM

Thanks - I put the word into a forum search but got a nil response...

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:30 AM

I used the filter search and set it for 3 years.
I refreshed 2 threads for you.

PM to open mike. She brought her nyckelharpa to Montana when I met her a few years ago, and somewhere I have a great photo of her singing and playing the nyckelharpa.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:36 AM

Thanks Alice - much appreciated.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:38 AM

I refreshed more threads, and they have additional links at the top of them to related threads.

have fun

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:39 AM

Hey Will.
Check out the Bach link from your YouTube clip...
Also....Do a YouTube search for "Vasen" and search for the original version of Josefins. Sensational.
They take a bit of getting used to, but, once you've worked out how to tune all the sympathetic strings, It sounds Brill!

Probably about 20 or so players in the UK. Mainly in Yorkshire. Loads in the US.

You'd probably have to buy one from Sweden, and like all instruments, good ones are very pricey....1500-2000 pounds.

Good Luck

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 11:43 AM

Hi Ralphie - yes, I've seen the Bach piece - stunning! I've also found two or three Swedish makers' websites and checked out the prices which are as you describe.

Just looking for some "insider" information before I proceed any further: things to look out for, playability, quirks, etc.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 12:09 PM

At the Washington Folk Festival in Maryland this last June, ther was a woman who played one very well! I saw her only while she was jamming in the picnic area.

see this series

(change 057 to 058,9,10,11)

(The harpist can play anything with anyone...they were having a grand time.)

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 12:12 PM

sorry..need to rename the pics...hold on

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 12:14 PM

Now... http://home.comcast.net/~somethingextree/music/festival 057.jpg

that 'should' be ok...just change to 58,59,60,61

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 12:16 PM

At a nyckelharpa workshop I tried a 3-row chromatic and began to understand how they work, though found bowing sideways a bit awkward. But last week I encountered some moraharpas - both diatonic and chromatic - and was able to play a tune within minutes! The diatonic had but one melody string (D) and two drones (D & or G) while the chromatic had two melody strings (D & G) with a D drone. Simplicity, and obtainable in Uppsala for a mere £1000 or so squids.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: TheSnail
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 12:16 PM

I dunno. You wait for one thread on the nyckelharpa and four turn up at once.

We booked Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club back in November. Where were you Will? Here is their website http://www.smallpiper.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 01:44 PM

Alice very kindly dug up the previous threads for me, Bryan - and, unfortunately, I (as usual) had a Saturday gig on that night...

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 02:11 PM

Will - As Bryan says, Vicki Swan plays the nyckelharpa (her mother is Swedish) and is a Catter (smallpiper). At Chippenham festival last year she found a few more nyckelharpa players!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 06:12 PM

And Vicki used it to great effect on her new album with Jonny Dyer, "Gleowien", and indeed on my last album too.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 07:47 PM

THAT TUNE, JOSEFINS DOPVALS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WALTZES.

A BETTER PLAYER, HOWEVER WOULD KEEP THEIR BOW PARALLEL WITH THE BRIDGE.


THERE IS A CLIP OF ME PLAYING ON MYSPACE....see videos...on:
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/laurelwoodsorrel

that was several years ago
i would like to think i play better by now...

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 08:09 PM

Spel Nisses Vals frå Norbotten, Sverige
from Feb 2008 on open mike's video page

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 08:26 PM

Vasen, playing "Vasen Street" Nordic Roots Festival, Minneapolis

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 08:36 PM

Kyrkpolska

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: PHJim
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 09:32 PM

Saskia Tompkins, from Welcome, Ontario plays. She has both myspace and Facebook pages and I know I've seen a clip of her playing the nickleharp.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: PHJim
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 09:48 PM

Saskia Tomkins, playing French music on the Nickelharpe with Steafan Hannigan, her husband, playing Irish pipes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2wF77FTE30 Hannigan

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 05:49 PM

Will, dear, is this the real you speaking, or is this the voice of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome?

In my not-so-humble opinion, the instrument looks hard to play and hard to tune. It's also very expensive.



Think it over, that's all I'm saying.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 08:18 PM

here is another british guy who you might want to contact..
http://www.sampirt.co.uk/About_Sam/

I sent several links...
to the yahoo group on nyckelhpara
to the Association ..ANA
and to a Swedish instrument shop
and my teacher in Calif. who
plays nyckelharpa and fiddle
in the swedish style and also
organizes tours of sweden

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: black walnut
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 08:24 PM

I didn't know that Saskia plaed the nycklelharpa! So talented, that woman.

Anne Lindsay, also from Ontario, Canada, plays it. She learned how to play it for the stage show in Toronto of The Lord of the Rings. Click here: ANNE LINDSAY THE LORD OF THE RINGS

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 08:57 PM

here is my reply to Will...

with several links..

Hello...I have had her (Matilda) for about 5 years now...
and she was acquired via communication thru the nyckelharpa
yahoo group...which i shall send a link to.

[e-mail]

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/nyckelharpa/

Post message:         [e-mail]
Subscribe:         [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:         [e-mail]
List owner:         [e-mail]

also being a member of American Nyckleharpa Association
has helped me to link up with players and owners all
around the world. check it out at www.nyckelharpa.org.

i know there is another mud`ccatter in the UK who has
and plays one...and perhaps also hurdy gurdy..if i think
of his named i will tell you.
(LATER REMEMBERED: SAM PIRT--http://www.sampirt.co.uk/About_Sam/)

ALSO YOU MIGHT CONTACT TOM PALEY, WHO SOMETIMES PLAYS
AT CECIL SHARP HOUSE AND OTHER U.K. VENUES. HE HAS
A NYCKELHARPA, AND LIVES IN OR NEAR LONDON. HE KNOWS
SEVERAL SWEDES AND OFTEN GOES TO SWEDEN. HE AND HIS SON
BEN DID A WONDERFUL C.D. OF SWEDISH FOLK TUNES.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Paley



here is Eric Sahlstrom playing one of his most famous tunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNwSj7FW9I4


I AM NOT SURE IF I REMEMBER THE DETAILS,
as it has been a few years and so much
has happened since then..my house burning
down, etc. but i think i paid about $500 and
about $100 postage for my instrument, which
was made near Skovde, Sweden.

also LEIF ALPSJO AT http://www.nyckelharpa.com/
IS A GOOD SOURCE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER MAKERS..
THERE IS NOT A FACTORY, EACH INSTRUMENT IS MADE
BY HAND. THERE IS MORE TO TELL YOU, BUT I THINK
THAT GIVES YOU SOME LEADS TO RESEARCH. LET ME
KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS, JUST ASK,

OH, YES MY TEACHER IS TIM RUED AND HE IS QUITE
KNOWLEDGEABLE. http://www.folksweden.com/

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY HUNTING..LAUREL

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 03:54 AM

Will, dear, is this the real you speaking, or is this the voice of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome?

Bit of both, really. At the moment I play (and own) guitars acoustic and electric, acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, tenor uke, Appalachian dulcimer, keyboards, blues harmonica, chromatic harmonica, accordion, low whistle in D, anglo concertina and - latterly - violin. I play all of these (after 40+ years) with some degree of skill, with the exception of the anglo - which I don't pick up enough. I've been learning the violin for 9 months and can scrape my away through a fair number of the tunes in the "Fiddler's Fakebook." So the nyckelharpa - if pursued and acquired - would be a worthy addition to the collection.

If I get really bored, I play "Dixie" and the "Marseillaise" on two pencils...

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 09:51 AM

Some French dance musicians that inhabit the Bath environs do.

Dan is a lecturer at Bath Uni and he plays just about any instrument including Nyckelharp and Hardanger Fiddle.

They also play for the Swedish dances in the area - notably the one in Bristol in Dec.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 07:03 PM

Well, Blackwalnut, that makes us even. I didn't know that Anne Lindsay played the nickleharpa.
Saskia lives within walking distance of me and I've seen her play fiddle, viola, cello and nickleharpa.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 03:23 PM

Hi will,

I am an occasional player. I am one of the Yorkshire, England contingent.

Cheers
Sarah

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 01:17 AM

check this Swedish recording company for some good recordings
http://www.drone.se/index.php?lang=eng

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:16 AM

Just a little story Will.
I went to Sweden once, specifically to buy a Harpa for a friend.
Took the cheapest Easy Jet flght, and consequently arrived back at Stanstead about 7am on a Sunday morning.
Bored Customs official, called me over with this big black coffin, asked me to open it.
Having fought through several layers of bubble wrap, the Harpa was revealed.
He looked at it for a few seconds....then at me, with a sort of withering glance, sighed, and said....
"Oh, just take it away...." !!!!

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:36 AM

If you want to be really hip, the Jouhikko is quite fashionable right now. Here's Pekko Kappi, who was touring with Phil & Cath Tyler a couple of years back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPK74xw-MA

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:40 AM

Make that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPK74xw-MA

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: GUEST,Saskia Tomkins
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 02:14 AM

Hello peoples - thanks for the compliment Black Walnut. I used to play in the UK but I've moved to attempt to be a canuck! Not many of us Nyck. players here, but I play it every Saturday night (give or take) at a little pub in Newcastle (Ontario not UK) called The Snug. Mostly Irish, English and French music. If anyone wants to have a go, there we are - also I could start you off if you want to figure out how to play it.
Happy New Year.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 11:19 AM

Saskia, if I wasn't moving to Goderich....!!!!!

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 02:34 PM

if you google Bruce Sagan on you tube you will see him play a few tunes. He is performing tonite...somewhere near to where Severn lives.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 04:51 AM

They were playing a recording of Nykelharpa music in the Walker Gallery in Liverpool yesterday; when I inquired I was told there was going to be a daytime Saturday concert of same to tie in with one of the exhibitions - er - soon - maybe next week or the week after...

Chap said it would be up on the website soon, so keep checking:

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 11:26 AM

Ruth Morris of the band "Bellevue Rendezvous" plays it. Check out their MySpace, or if in Scotland, come and see them at the imminent Celtic Connections Festival 2010 in Glasgow.
http://www.myspace.com/bellevuerendezvous
And I think Jim Sutherland had a squad of them in his "Banda Europa"

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 11:32 AM

Our Scandia group meets (usually) twice a month for Scandinavian (mainly Swedish but occasionally Telemark) dancing in London, with a variable number of musicians, mostly playing fiddles but sometimes a nyckelharpa or two. Next one tomorrow.

There are Scandinavian music and dance events elsewhere in the UK from time to time, typically with a few nyckelharpor and an assortment of other instruments.

Richard

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 11:36 AM

Väsen

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 11:38 AM

Here's a clip of La Banda Europa: 4 nycklharpas, including Ditte Andersen, who performed at our "Northern Streams" festival in Edinburgh last year. And an array of other interesting instruments: see the credits at the end of the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFEZHey0EOI

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 12:48 PM

wow i did not know we travelled in squads...
a gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, a squad of nyckelharpor!
this swedish group has 6 masterful players..
Nyckelharpa Orchestra--Nyckelharporkestern--listen here:
http://www.amazon.com/Byss-Calle-Nyckelharpa-Orchestra/dp/B00004Z3YQ

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Fidjit
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 11:36 AM

There's one in our band

He's at the back so you won't hear him much. Nice instrument though.

Chas

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 08:34 PM

Can't think of anything suitably rhyming with Nyckelharpa (fickel starter maybe?) but the McCalmans did have this great collective noun in their song "Bodhrans and Banjos"
"Squadrons of bodhrans" (assuming mis-pronunciation of the latter!)

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:50 AM

Well... "fickle carper" would do it...

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: kitchen piper
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 06:12 PM

Hello!
Thought I should pop by and say hi, having spotted this thread!
I love my nyckelharpa!

The most two important links for me would be:
http://www.nyckelharpa.org/
and
http://www.ritaleydon.com/ZZdvdProject/01dvd.html

Lycka Till!
:))
Vx

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: open mike
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 06:49 PM

Yes Rita Leydon has been "instrumental" in the American Nyckelharpa Association, and has documented many "'harpa" players and builders as well as other Swedish topics of note such as lacemaking.. with many
videos

she also has a recording company called RPM together with Peter
"Puma" Hedlund

http://www.ritaleydon.com/ZrpmMusic/rpm.html with several titles
availalble.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a nyckelharpa?
From: John P
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 07:47 PM

If you want to get either a nyckelharpa or a hurdy-gurdy, get a good one from a reputable maker. I've spent a lot of time around both types of instruments for many years, and poorly built instruments not only sound bad, but they often don't actually work.

The last time someone I know bought a nyckelharpa it was about $1000 for a basic but functional instrument, including freight to the US. A very basic good hurdy-gurdy will be half again that much at least.

I'm currently playing Swedish music in Seattle in a band called Mad Fiddlu with a couple of very good nyckelharpa players: Bart Brashers and Anna Abraham. Bart also plays the kontrabassharpa. The only thing better than the sound of a nyckelharpa is two of them in harmony . . .

It's interesting, when I'm not playing with NHs or HGs, my cittern gets lots of attention and I get lots of questions about it. When I'm on with the truly oddball instruments, I usually get ignored.

John