regina_nyckelharpista @regina_nyckelharpista@sunny.garden
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The nyckelharpa is a folk instrument from Sweden 🇸🇪 with a long standing tradition there. "Nyckelharpa" is a Swedish word, "nyckel" meaning "key" and "harpa" being a general term for a stringed instrument. Its key features (hah, see what I did there?) are the sympathetic strings and a keybox full of wooden keys. Some translate it into English to "keyed fiddle" 🗝️ 🎻 "viola de teclas" in Spanish or "viola d'amore a chiavi" in Italian - although it is not a fiddle or viola ;)

How it works: I produce the sound with a bow on the strings, like on any other bowed instrument, but instead of touching the strings with the fingers of my left hand and pushing them down on a fretboard or fingerboard to play a melody, I press a key. The key moves a little wooden tangent to the string and tada, the note changes 🎉 The magical sound of the nyckelharpa is created from its sympathetic strings (usually 12) which are enhancing every note I play on the four melody strings.

If you want to hear some nyckelharpa music, you're welcome on my duos bandcamp aklejafolk.bandcamp.com or search for "Akleja" wherever you like to stream music. More names you can look for there are Josefina Paulson, Hazelius Hedin, Emilia Amper, Väsen, Daniel Pettersson / Sotali, Erik Rydvall - there are so many FANTASTIC players out there! 😭

The instrument pictured here was made by Mats Wester.

A close-up of the keybox and keys (some have gold paint on them) of a nyckelharpa. You can see the delicate carving job the luthier did on the key heads and instrument. On the right you can see the wooden pegs that touch the strings to change the note and some sympathetic strings next to the highest playing string.A closeup of the head stock of a nyckelharpa. You can see the four big friction pegs that hold the melody strings and mechanics on the left and right side of the head, holding the twelve sympathetic strings. The headstock design is elegant and light and there is some decorations burnt into the wood.A close-up of one of the f-holes on the soundboard of a nyckelharpa. You see the distinct outline of the body and a traditional decorative pattern burnt next to the rim. In the corners, these form little flowers. On the right side you can see the bridge and a lot of strings (thick ones for melody playing, thin ones are sympathetic strings) going over it. The wood has a honey colour.
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