10 Things No One Told You About Nyckelharpa

Рет қаралды 23,811

Жыл бұрын

Nyckelharpa is great but no one told you these things ! Some are just annoying, some are problematic, one is nice.
1:01 Finger Precision
3:09 Beware of the pain !
4:51 Not Standardized
6:49 Carry your lot
9:11 Bowing is HARD
10:29 Climbing is HARD
12:24 They Just Feel Different
14:23 Poor sound techies
16:31 Get Tinkery
19:18 Nice Nerdy Bunch
I'm Emelie Waldken, I play Scandinavian folk music on nyckelharpa and fiddles, and I teach folk music and dancing.
Support on Patreon / emeliewaldken
Listen on Bandcamp emeliewaldken.bandcamp.com/
Facebook / emeliewaldken
Instagram / emeliewaldken
Upcoming Gigs www.emeliewaldken.net/agenda....
Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/3ecxq...
Bag Luthiers in Spain makes soft cases for rare instruments, aka for nyckelharpas of different shapes bagluthiers.com/en/
Nyckelharpa with 4-rows keyboard & bow by Jean-Claude Condi, Mirecourt, France.
Velvet wrap-vest, necklace & embroidered map by me.
Thumbnail by Marguerite Minnot-Thomas margueriteminnot-thomas.com/
Thanks to Esther for the cider.
HAPPY WORLD NYCKELHARPA DAY !!
worldnyckelharpaday.com/
Recorded April 2023 in Uppland, Sweden.
#nyckelharpa #nordicfolk #worldnyckelharpaday

Пікірлер: 125

@andrewharmon7929 9 ай бұрын

I built a travel case for my sister's Harpa. It's a monster! Covered with fancy black tolex, contoured dense foam interior, with lush red velvet, and brass fittings. I may be buried in it, when my time comes!

@howardboyer9092 8 ай бұрын

That means it would be like a Indian Sitar a 12harmonic 6 active string instrument

@Spacecookie- 9 ай бұрын

All you need is to borrow Mary Poppins' umbrella to carry your Nyckelharpa with you.

@EmelieWaldken 9 ай бұрын

It's my birthday quite soon, if anyone wants to send me one of these =P

@davidwright8432 3 ай бұрын

I just 'discovered' the nyckelharpa about half an hour ago. To my ear, an indispensable part of its charm, is the resonance. But as a contraption, as a piece of mechanism - sublime! PS - sounds great, too! Thanks for the video.

@dessiplaer 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the information. I love this instrument, and I learned a lot about it.

@BengtNordsten 9 ай бұрын

As for cases, ALWAYS haunt every nearby instrument shop you can get to! I needed a case to safely pack my old bouzouki, which just "sloshes around" in a standard guitar case -- he thought for a moment, and brought out a dusty cheap Flying V case that fits PERFECT. 😁 If you're a touring professional, you really NEED to have a custom-built case (with IMO composite or fiberglass sides, aluminum framework, fitted interior, and definitely WHEELS) for maybe EUR 1000... but you could also find a solid used box for keyboard or pedals or something that fits very well -- I have an old Akai keyboard case that is about right but so shallow there'd be almost no room for padding.

@javi9038 Жыл бұрын

¡¡Fascinante instrumento!! Tu pasion por nychelharpa es contagiosa. Gran homenaje🎵🎼🎶🎻

@doremifadi Жыл бұрын

Very informative! thank you!

@Kalsiver Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the informations!❤

@mindbodysaul4382 23 күн бұрын

Thanx for the information and spirit 😊 Such a wonderful channel!

@gregpastic6910 2 ай бұрын

So glad I found your channel! I lived in Stockholm from 1978-1980 for music studies and during those three years I met a few 'early' revivers of the nyckelharpa. I fell in love with the instrument. At a workshop I met a man named Herold Lundin. He was one of the first modern nyckelharpa builders. We became friends (he was like my grandpa!) and he invited me to build my own instrument in his shop. It took me a year even with his generous help! I also bought one of his beautiful instruments which I still have but don't play often enough. You've inspired me to spend more time with my harpa. Thank you!

@guitarandharmonicaman 20 күн бұрын

Hi Emelie. 😊 Thanks for this video. You are very impressing. I am just making a hard box for a special instrument, that I am just getting ready. 🤔 The box will be about 6 mm plywood. The idea comes from a bag, people use as flying. There are two wheels in the back, a nut in front and a grip. So you can draw the box after you on solid surfaces. 👍 I will soon share a video about the box on my channel. Regards Kari from Finland. ❤

@pagophilus 9 ай бұрын

Carrying - hard case with foam padding. Johannes Mayr sells a Thomann one as an option when purchasing from him. I thought of getting a local business to make a custom one for me, but he suggested that purchasing one with the nyckelharpa was a good idea as it would make transporting it half way around the world to me much safer. Yes, it's heavy.

@anetherealpursuit Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this! I got my nyckelharpa in 2019 and I’ve found the main barrier to improving on the instrument is the back pain. I’ll be working on exercising my back more so I have the strength to sustain it, as I really want to get back into playing again! Also I live in New Zealand so there aren’t so many of us around 😅 so your videos are of great help to me!

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Oh no, so sad to hear that back pain is such a serious problem for you with this instrument. It IS tricky on that point, but there are a few solutions, so I hope you can find some that help. All the best =)

@facts68 9 ай бұрын

@@EmelieWaldkenNoticed the Jewish horns on the top shelf, are you Jewish? Or do Scandinavians also play them?

@EmelieWaldken 9 ай бұрын

@@facts68 These are Swedish kohorn and bockhorn, very similar to Jewish shofar in every technical way, just not played for ceremonies but for casual music here in Scandinavia =)

@JoanieAdamms Жыл бұрын

Also, a befitting brochure for Sweden would be: Come to Sweden! Take leisure time, sample the delicious foods, meet the amiable people!; Also, live with a highly intrinsic instrument that requires you to have a hardy back and a harpa-builder living not too far from you (Preferably in your back yard) and you've got yourself a passionate Swedish Folkie Band!

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Very accurate XD

@JoanieAdamms Жыл бұрын

My favorite corner of the vast - vast web! And speaking of vastness, this precious Instrument withholds much, so much beauty!

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

I'm really touched, thank you !! And I agree, the nyckelharpa is so full of beautiful music !

@Eldrvak 11 ай бұрын

Great video and am extremely impressed at your 4 rows! i bet it plays beautifully

@EmelieWaldken 11 ай бұрын

Thank you ! Yes I love the sound and playability of it !

@LMB2301 8 ай бұрын

Kingham MTM (made to measure) in the UK make instrument cases to measure, so it could be worth approaching them. I play Renaissance lute where there is no standard size either, I got my hard cases from this firm. There's a similar firm in Spain, they are cheaper but I find they are heavier, so if the instrument is already heavy, you don't want a heavy case too! Kingham cases are relatively lightweight.

@EmelieWaldken 8 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot for the tip !

@robban3954 8 ай бұрын

Very informative video! :D Thanks for sharing!

@jensaskengren2905 Жыл бұрын

You can build a case similar to the wooden box using carbon fiber slabs and aluminium. The padding could be made from laser cut foam matching the body of your nyckelharpa perfectly. You should definitely be able to find a local shop making custom cases like this. For a professional that travels it might make sense to pay for such a case.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

It is very doable, BUT it requires materials, knowledge and social connections to the right nerdy Makers... and not every nyckelharpa player has all that =) Myself, I haven't yet found people who could do this for me.

@mindbodysaul4382 23 күн бұрын

Thanx for the information anf positive

@nicolafattorini3841 Жыл бұрын

I love this video so much

@miroevermoss Жыл бұрын

Absolutely lovely and super informative for person like me who dream of owning nyckelharpa, but never touched one ❤

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

So glad to hear ! And I hope you can get a nyckelharpa soon =)

@miroevermoss Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken As soon as I have a place to call a Home...and ofcourse the finances, I am getting one 😌🙏

@pRahvi0 18 күн бұрын

Hejsan från Finland! Thank you for this informative video. I probably won't ever need to know these things but it was nice listening you tell them anyway. '^^ And who knows, maybe I'll start designing and selling proper cases and/or microphones for these one day. :P

@williamsurname4669 Жыл бұрын

I don't have a Nyckelharpa, but I like how they look and sound.

@littleeggy3393 9 ай бұрын

Very informative. A lovely clear video. I came here after a friend said she’d taken up this fascinating instrument about a year ago and was very keen on it. I think I might be tempted if I was 25 years old and a fiddle player! For now I will enjoy listening rather than playing…..

@EmelieWaldken 9 ай бұрын

There's no limit age for starting to play a new instrument, you know =)

@slowcreep6978 9 ай бұрын

I would kill for one of these, but they're expensive and hard to find.

@ricardinskiy Жыл бұрын

Bello instrumento and the sounds is pleasant. I would like to have this instrument, but it would be difficult to think of getting one here in Bolivia.

@hin_hale Жыл бұрын

Many useful tips and good information, thanks! I recently bought a nyckelharpa and have started to learn. I reckoned that it would be harder than I anticipated and BOY was I right. 😅 I'll be digging around for more of your videos and taking detailed notes. Btw, is that a säckpipa I see on the shelf? 😃

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

It's a drone of a säckpipa yes ! Wishing you patience and progress on your nyckelharpa adventure then ^^

@ArabianJirds Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video, it definitely hits a nerve :D I am a beginner myself and I am still kind of struggling finding my playing position. Since I broke my right elbow, I've got some difficulties moving the right arm. Right now, it looks like I am dancing with my Nyckelharpa so I can play all the strings in the right angle. Luckily I can't see myself, so I don't now, how ridiculous it looks... :D Looking forward to your next video, you are a great inspiration for me :)

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

"Hits a nerve" I guess the pun was intended ^^ And yes, finding a good position, which allows to hit all the strings and keys while being comfortable is HARD on this instrument ! Wishing you good luck with it ^^

@jmozart198 7 ай бұрын

I cant wait to lean to play this beautiful instrument.

@JustFiddler Жыл бұрын

ah baru tahu aku. Matur suksma

@mogg3 Жыл бұрын

Got myself a nyckelharpa late last year and started playing like two-three months ago. All these tips & tricks videos you make are amazing for getting to know the instrument. Thank you. :) I actually made my own hardcase out of plywood for the harp to be able to protect and lug it around, and it gets heavy quite fast, especially since I haven't found a good handle to put on it yet. 😅 But I am thinking about experimenting a bit with lighter and maybe even a bit thinner plywood to see how that would work.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

I think the easiest way to carry around a wooden case, aside giving it a handle, is to wrap it in a sort of harness made of heavy-duty straps (like bag straps). Also the only way to carry it on one's back probably. Glad to hear my videos are useful to you on your nyckelharpa journey =)

@mogg3 Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken Ahh yeah that sounds like something to try out actually. I'll have to see what I can make out of it. :)

@Seregium 5 ай бұрын

I think it will be easier to add a pair of wheels

@jsanledes 3 ай бұрын

Eres muy buena comunicadora, ¡felicidades!

@EmelieWaldken 3 ай бұрын

Gracias !

@BengtNordsten 9 ай бұрын

I've always wanted to learn nikkelharpa. Speaking as an all-round frets player, some great advice here, particularly stretching (before, during, after playing AND throughout the rest of your day particularly after a long playing session!) AND exercise. I would add: DEFINITELY find a good chiropractor, one that suits your needs very well. Years of wearing heavy guitars for hours at a time has pulled my upper back laterally out of line (C3-C5). I found a chiro who specializes in sports injuries. He said, "Oh, yeah, I see that all the time in hockey players." 😁 I go in every 2-3 months for a "maintenance" visit, more if I wrench my spine out of place, and I'm back to excellence in less than a half-hour.

@musicanimation-ss4hl 8 ай бұрын

Please, where can I get this instrument to buy? Do you also teach classes? Thanks!

@countess.draculaura 3 ай бұрын

Amazing amazing amazing! I'm getting a Nyckelharpa from a Swedish maker and I'm so happy I found your channel! I'd love to know how one can write their own music using a Nyckelharpa ☺️ would it be similar to other instruments?

@EmelieWaldken 3 ай бұрын

Yes you can absolutely write music with the nyckelharpa in mind / on the nyckelharpa. It's not different from a viola, basically. I usually write in violin key (G clef) though.

@countess.draculaura 3 ай бұрын

@EmelieWaldken Great! Thank you so much for replying! 💕

@granolasong6994 5 ай бұрын

A lot of things to put me off getting into the nyckelharpa. 😊 I love the sound of it but think I’ll stick to the fiddle in the foreseeable future!

@Lexcoaster Жыл бұрын

Awesome instrument! And I love how you pronounce 'angle'. 😄

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Haha okej, why ??

@Lexcoaster Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken A very Swedish 'a'. 😀

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

@@Lexcoaster Okay ^^' If you say so !

@FSEAirboss 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great overview of such a unique instrument. I wonder...would something like what marching bass drummers use to carry their drum would allow the weight to be more evenly spread and perhaps allow the strap to not quite be in the way as much (or a single pressure point). Just a thought and you could decorate it so its not so...marching band looking :D

@EmelieWaldken 4 ай бұрын

I don't actually know the contraption you're talking about, but a friend of mine uses a saxophone structure that puts the weight of the instrument onto a belt.

@FSEAirboss 4 ай бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken HI Emelie, try searching for "Bass Drum Harness" Its as simple as just Crossed (X) straps, to rigid plastic metal contraptions. Its designed to use both shoulders/full back support. I'd put a link, but think YT doesn't allow that. Hope you are having a great day.

@davidsunderland8063 8 ай бұрын

You have inspired me💛 to make one with bigger keys💛

@davidsunderland8063 8 ай бұрын

And a matching mic😄💛

@EmelieWaldken 8 ай бұрын

Glad to inspire you to try things and explore what works for you =D

@pagophilus 9 ай бұрын

Re precision, you also can adjust the finger pressure for intonation, especially if it's incredibly hard to tune the tangents super precisely and you don't want to unscrew the whole keybox. There may be one or two notes that you need to press a bit harder or a bit less.

@EmelieWaldken 9 ай бұрын

Yep, I made a video about that technique kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aMyBZ5ed1aqUo58.html

@wolfcry6074 Жыл бұрын

A pelican case might be a good option if you don’t want to build one. Pelican cases come in a variety of dimensions. You can get them with pull and pick foam, foam that is divided into blocks that can be pulled out to create a custom fit for whatever you’re putting in the case. Also waterproof!

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Never heard of it, where does it come from, who makes it, and what is it intended for in the first place ? :)

@wolfcry6074 Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken Pelican is a US maker of plastic hard cases, they are very tough and when closed are waterproof. They are for anything you might want to put in a case. I’ve bought several over the years for cameras and audio equipment. A long case like you’d want for an instrument would be about $300 USD. You can order it with the pull and pick foam I mentioned or empty and customize it how you like. People build all kinds of things out of them.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

@@wolfcry6074 Sounds extremely promising actually ! Thank you very much for the tip !

9 ай бұрын

Yes, that was also my first thought, they also go by the name of Peli Cases. They are super sturdy and can take a punch, waterproof also. Some have wheels, I use a peli 1510 for my electronic instruments, perfect for touring. The only problem really is they come with there own weight.

@hannafiddler Жыл бұрын

Emelie: "It's going to be a semi-tone difference, and that clashes a heck lot" Hanna: "Okay, so what exactly is the problem...?" :p

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Most people don't play modal stuff with lots of build-in semitone tensions, dear ^^

@BengtNordsten 9 ай бұрын

While I'm here: Has anyone tried reversing the bow, as with the tagelharpa? I asked a friend (orchestra violinist) for input, and she suggested "maybe cello style not violin" -- though perhaps under-hand instead (she studied renaissance instruments a bit).

@EmelieWaldken 9 ай бұрын

Yes it is a technique, some nyckelharpa players (mostly coming from cello or perhaps double-bass) use it. It is shown in my video about how to hold the instrument kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hOCEqM5-tsC2fGg.html

@aldebaran3700 11 ай бұрын

Hi I'm new here 😁 where did you buy this big nickelharpa ?

@amymerrill1550 8 ай бұрын

BagLuthier from Spain make nyckelharpa cases to measure.

@nicolafattorini3841 Жыл бұрын

I would love to hear your version of polska efter Sven Donat, I think you could make a lovely one.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

I've been considering it for years and practicing that tune, but never got it fully smooth. Magnus Holmström's version is such a perfect one...

@nicolafattorini3841 Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken well I hope to listen to Emelie's version too in the future :)

@nicolafattorini3841 Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken kzfaq.info/get/bejne/acqnndGcnKyznI0.html I did really enjoy this ensemble version of it

@user3141592635 Жыл бұрын

Vad händer om två svarta hål roterar och förlorar energi genom så kallade gravitationsvågor ? Jag skojar förstås.

@williamwurthmann1573 9 ай бұрын

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND ONE?

@bgardunia 5 ай бұрын

Can you play it like a cello with the keys upright?

@EmelieWaldken 5 ай бұрын

Doable but not the most practical. The keys fall down by gravity, so if you want to hold it completely vertical (like a cello) you'll need a special thing: a little piece of metal behind each key acting as a spring, to push the key back into neutral position.

@JustFiddler Жыл бұрын

is it possible to making carbon fiber nycelharp ?

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

No idea ^^ Try it and tell us !

@howardboyer9092 8 ай бұрын

Try not bowing it and holding it like a violin Instead set the bottom down like a string bass bow it from the left like a string bass keys up key it up or down

@dididoo Жыл бұрын

I reply "oooh yeeesss!" To all you comments!🤣😏🤭

@qoph1988 3 күн бұрын

I can assure you, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that nobody has ever told me ANYTHING about nyckelharpa. Not that I wouldn't want to know. The topic does not come up often

@YouPeasant888 Жыл бұрын

I think Vicki Swann uses aluminum flight cases with carved foam.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

I will ask her !

@YouPeasant888 Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pqqnartyysyZn3k.html

@NataliaBazj Жыл бұрын

Wheel 🛞! Did someone already write that the heavy case must have wheels?

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

Haha no, never heard of that ^^ Not a bad idea tho

@SSRT_JubyDuby8742 9 ай бұрын

Like deployed 👍

@aaronchambers9888 5 ай бұрын

Related to a sitar?

@EmelieWaldken 5 ай бұрын

Not really, but the concept of resonance strings is POSSIBLY coming from India/Rajasthan, imported to Europe at the end of the Renaissance period (give or take a century).

@pqsnet Жыл бұрын

My dad plays Nyckelharpa, or at least have one... And i play the violin. Ive tried nyckelharpa, but find it difficult, since on the violin, your hand follow the bow, meaning, playing from G-E strings your bow and hands move from top (G) to bottom (E). But on the Nyckelharpa, its the opposites. When the bow goes up the fingers move down on the keys... So, why are nyckelharpor constructed like this?

@pqsnet Жыл бұрын

And are there nyckelharpor constructed the other way, meaning the bow and finger/keys are arranged the same as on a violin? Shouldnt be hard to just reconfigure the keys.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

@@pqsnet I see what you mean. Yes, there are nyckelharpas on which the left hand goes the same "direction" as on violin : the Tord Johansson nyckelharpas ! These are very rare though. I personally just worked through the adjusting time and now the "nyckelharpa direction" of the left hand feels just as natural as the violin's =)

@pqsnet Жыл бұрын

@@EmelieWaldken Hmm, yes i guess its a practice and by time natural coming thing. But the instruments i would like to play are so different. I got Nyckelharpa, vevlira and accordion/dragspel on my list.. And i really make it hard for my self... I see you have a vevlira in the background. Do you have any good advice? I heard Johannes Gewokian in a church in Sörmland and was hooked on that instrument.

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

@@pqsnet Vevlira (hurdy-gurdy) is having a similar keyboard to a piano, so it's completely different from nyckelharpa (despite looking quite similar). Also the left hand is in the opposite way (facing down), so it's REALLY confusing - to me at least. It's the trickiest of my instruments to play for me. I guess it's, as usual, "just" a question of practice and patience...

@emmanuels7723 Жыл бұрын

Well as a cellist I have trouble playing violin for the same exact reason... Plus we get a lot of movement between positions compared to what you have on violins.... So maybe nyckelharpa would be easier for cellist in general ?

@user-do5hd7zb4x 8 ай бұрын

BYE! If a shotgun case would work for you? Or maybe the smaller nickelharpa?

@bhaktsuva 5 ай бұрын

has anybody built nyckelharper for left handed musician?

@EmelieWaldken 5 ай бұрын

Yes !! They're rare but they exist ! Most builders can build them - and I'm pretty sure the Nerdyharpa can be built left-handed quite easily, too.

@erikhiltunen4697 Жыл бұрын

Happy Nyckelharpa day!

@erikhiltunen4697 Жыл бұрын

By the way, the “hitting the adjacent key” is very relatable for hammered dulcimers, too!

@EmelieWaldken Жыл бұрын

@@erikhiltunen4697 I can imagine !! Been plucking a harp these days and very relatable on these too ^^ Happy That-instrument-you-don't-play-but-are-constantly-surrounded-by Day to you too !

@GenXPianist 4 ай бұрын

I am certain I have heard this instrument played in movies Hollywood rather, this is the first time I ever seen this instrument in my life, I am fascinated. White people are fantastic.

@motasem4295 28 күн бұрын

built on lies then😗mor then love😘 way stay for that🤨🤔

@plschwartzx 4 ай бұрын

You might look into constructing a case by CAD 3D printing. You "build" your model on the computer. 3D printing extrudes a plastic material in thin layers, following computer instructions. In its own way, this procedure seems very much a handicraft.

@42353452 4 ай бұрын

i like you) interesting video

@Normanskie 6 ай бұрын

Getting hard work, living in an apartment surrounded by other residents you have to keep the noise down, but then can hardly hear you once the loud music stops, sorry as it looked really interesting but alas don't want the landlord on my back. Still gave you a thumbs up though.