Nyckelharpa — Lutherie Encyclopedia

NyckelharpaType: instrumentA Swedish keyed fiddle with tangent keys that fret the strings, combined with sympathetic strings for a rich, resonant tone unique to Swedish folk music.## History The nyckelharpa (Swedish for "key harp") has a documented history in Sweden dating back to the 14th century, with a carved image of the instrument appearing on a church gate in Källunge, Gotland, from around 1350. The instrument evolved through several forms over the centuries, from simple one-row key instruments to the modern chromatic nyckelharpa developed by August Bohlin and Eric Sahlström in the 20th century. Sahlström, in particular, is credited with modernizing the instrument in the 1960s, creating a three-row chromatic version that made the nyckelharpa viable for a wide range of musical styles beyond traditional Swedish folk music. In 2012, the nyckelharpa tradition was added to the Swedish national heritage list, and the instrument has gained an international following through folk music festivals and workshops. ## Construction The modern chromatic nyckelharpa has a body roughly 38 inches long, somewhat resembling an elongated violin or vielle. The body is carved or assembled from maple and spruce, with a spruce soundboard and maple back and sides. The most distinctive feature is a system of approximately 37 wooden tangent keys arranged in rows along the neck. When pressed, these keys push tangents (small wooden pegs) against the strings, effectively acting as movable frets. The instrument has four playing strings (bowed) and twelve sympathetic strings that resonate in response to the played notes. The bridge is designed to support both string groups. The…