Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK

Subject: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 06:22 AM

We had the first nyckelharpa workshop in the UK at Norwich Festival on Saturday with six players attending. Johan Hedin was the tutor and four of us stayed for a further extra afternoon workshop which we asked him (very nicely) if he would do for us. His band Bazar Bla are excellent and played two concert spots.

The next nyckelharpa event will be at the Settle Scandinavian Festival at May Day Bank Holiday. The following details are from the Yorkshire Dales Workshop website:

'Subject to successful funding we will be offering:

A programme of Uppland, Swedish traditions with Cajsa Ekstav, Ditte Andersson and Michael Näslund (who form the group Tresmak) teaching fiddle and nyckelharp plus Uppland dances, joined by fiddler Bosse Larsson (nephew of Viksta Lasse)


Vegar Vårdal, fiddler, hardanger fiddle player and dancer will lead the Norwegian programme of music and dance (there will be a total of four Norwegian artists)

Kerry Fletcher will be running a complete programme of dance workshops for beginners and improvers.'

Cheers
Sarah

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 06:45 AM

Probably a stupid question but what is a nyckelharpa?
eric the confused

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 08:49 AM

Hi Eric,

There is a pic of Johan playing the harpa here http://nyckelharpansforum.net/2003b/f50.htm (can't do blue clickies).

It is played with a short boy and has 16 strings in all - three are melody strings and one is a drone. All the rest are sympathetic strings.

Most nyckelharpas now are chromatic.

They sound like a cello in a cathedral.

Cheers
Sarah

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:45 AM

Never heard of anyone playing an instrument with a ' short boy '
Hope it doesn't hurt him too much.
eric

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: GUEST,sarah
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 10:07 AM

Eeek.

Meant BOW!!!!!! Hope my son doesn't read this

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 04:24 AM

Best laugh of the week so far sarah, I saw the pictures, unusual instrument.
eric

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: GUEST,Phil.
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 08:33 AM

It looks to me like a bowed hurdy-gurdy

Subject: RE: Nyckelharpa workshops in the UK
From: open mike
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 02:39 AM

Excellant! Cajsa taught some workshops in the U.S. last spring, which I attended, and my nyckelharpa playing is better due to those sessions. Bo Larrson was there, too, near Seattle, Washington. see also
www.nyckelharpa.org, also known as a Key Fiddle, yes similar to bowed hurdy gurdy except that a hurdy gurdy has a cover over the strings and you reach yor hand over the "finger-board" to play it, and a nyckelharpa is played with your left hand going under the neck of it. Also a hurdy gurdy straps to your body with a waist belt or band, and a nyckelharpa is suspended from a strap much like a guitar strap, which goes in fornt of both shoulders.see also this thread