In 1974, I was with a friend at the Ransäter fiddle festival in Värmland. She had just bought a nyckelharpa from Eric Sahlström, but some keys were sticking. He brought his tools to the festival and fixed it.
Eric Sahlström reparerar en harpa vid Ransäters spelmansstämma 1974.
Anders Zorn the great Swedish impressionist painter, was a devout lover of fiddle music. At the museum at his home in Mora, Dalarna, is this nyckelharpa - the oldest known to exist. It is dated 1526.
Moraharpan i Zornmuseet. Harpan byggdes 1526.
A 1974 photo of Ann-Marie Eriksson of Karlskoga, Värmland, with her nyckelharpa. She was the playing partner (on fiddle) of Pelle Persson, my mentor in Jämtland music.
Ann-Marie Eriksson. Hon bodde i Karlskoga i 1974, och spelade jämtlåtar på fiolen med Pelle Persson, som härstammade från Hammardal. Hon köpte den här harpan från Eric Sahlström.
My first meeting with Leif Alpsjö was in 1974 at the Östervåla fiddle festival in Uppland. He was then a member of a performing group that included the Uppland icon, Viksta-Lasse (seated to the right). Leif is now one of the best-known nyckelharpa players in Sweden, and is the founder of the American Nyckelharpa Association.
"Tre Spelmän" med Leif Alpsjö och Viksta-Lasse.
This was a picture in the Modesto Bee newspaper during the Turlock "Scandifest" in September 2000.
Från en amerikansk tidning i september 2000.
I ran across this harpa at a festival in 1975. The player was also the builer. Notice there are 4 melody strings and 2 unkeyed bowed strings besides the sympathetics.
En unik harpa i Jämtland på Heimbygdasstämman. Den har 4 spelsträngar, 2 bordun strängar, och minst 12 resonanssträngar.
This is a contrabass nyckelharpa from the 1700's. It was on display at the Nyckelharpa festival in Österbybruk in 1977. Look closely to see the second row of tangents on the keys farthest from the fingering end.
En kontrabasharpa från 1700-talet.
This silver bass nyckelharpa was on display at the same festival. The early attempt at double-row keyworks is plainly visible.
Silverbasharpa.
I was privileged to be able to inspect this mid-19th century silver bass nyckelharpa at someone's home in Storvik, Gästrikland. The top was glued on, but the entire key mechanism was fastened together with wooden dowels.
Silverbasharpa i Storvik, Gästrikland. Hela leklådan gjordes utan lim.
I took this harpa apart, and photographed all the parts. This view shows how the keybox was constructed.
Jag fick fotografera harpans alla delar.
This is how the harpa looked all put together. Notice the key that has three holes for tangents, so it can be used for a natural, sharp, or flat.
Så här såg harpan ut.
This is a great shot of Ceylon Wallin, playing at the Östervåla fiddle festival in 1974. At the time, I had never met nor heard of him.
Ceylon Wallin på Östervålas Spelmansstämma i 1974.
Anton Jernberg made this travelling display showing how a nyckelharpa is built.
Så här byggas en nyckelharpa.
From 1976 through 1983 I played every year at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire near Los Angeles. This is how I looked then.
Mina yngre dagar vid en gammaldags marknad i Södra Kalifornien.
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Tim Rued
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