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nyckelharpa or Swedish Key violin.

November 18, 2007 at 10:33 PM

First I learned from Bilbo Prattle that the instrument on the 50 krones money of Sweden is a Swedish Key violin. Now I learned from Corwin Slack that it is also called "nyckelharpa" ( here more about the nyckelharpa or Swedish Key violin on Wikipedia) and gives Bach on Youtube on this instrument:

The nyckelharpa or Swedish Key violin
I had never heard of it before your last post so I did some googling of my own. There are several Youtube performances. Thank you for sharing this and piquing my curiosity.
Also search on "Hurdy Gurdy" which is very similar but uses a spinning wheel rather than a bow.

Interestingly enough, there is a Hurdy-Gurdy used prominently in the movie version of "The Polar Express" put out a few years ago.

Vibrato looks super tough. I want one so I can play in tune.
Bit like you'd imagine a bowed guitar (?) :-)
Fascinating instrument - that was fascinating - thank you Bram. I wonder if it's any easier to learn than traditional violin.
It was pretty, in a weird sort of way, but the constant clicking of the keys was distracting and annoying.

It's hard enough getting a standard violin on the plane- imagine having to travel with one of these contraptions!

The Swedish group Vasen uses one of these instruments. Do a you tube search for Vasen .....Great listening !!

David Blackmon

"I wonder if it's any easier to learn than traditional violin." Yes Bernardette, you don't have intonation problems with your left hand, because the (piano-)mechanic pulls down the strings to the fingerboard.