’Nyckelharpan’ – Swedish keyed fiddle How to use the video This video is about the Swedish keyed fiddle, a traditional instrument that is still being used in folk music. Please tag and credit the musicians as shown in the captions below.
The video is in 9:16 format and is suitable for Instagram and Facebook stories or reels. It is available in English and Arabic, and as a clean version without subtitles. You can use the clean version to add text in your local language.
Videos Download video with English text (MP4 138 MB) Video with English text Download video with Arabic text (MP4 164 MB) Video with Arabic text Download clean version (MP4 164 MB) Video without text Captions The sound of the 1300s? 🎻 ’Nyckelharpan’ is a traditional Swedish instrument, also known as the Swedish keyed fiddle. The name comes from the Swedish words ’nyckel’ (key) and ’harpa’ (stringed instrument). The first mentions of the nyckelharpa are believed to date back to around 1350.
The instrument has 16 strings, but only 4 are played, while the remaining 12 are so-called sympathetic strings. The sympathetic strings are positioned beneath the main strings in such a way that the bow does not touch them. These strings give the nyckelharpa its distinctive depth of sound and accompanying drone. 👏
Unlike traditional bowed instruments, the pitch on the nyckelharpa is altered using 37 wooden keys, allowing for a register of three octaves. The instrument is played by holding the bow in the right hand and pressing the keys with the left hand. 🎶
In the video, @erikrydvall and @rasmus.hemstrom perform a cavalry march after the legendary Swedish fiddler Carl Ersson Bösse (1783–1847). 🇸🇪
Video: Erik Rydvall
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