I love this and she say it’s the texture and the hardest part to hear but I think it’s the easiest and most distinctive trait of it… I always hated the heavy E and A use in violin giving it a “Whiny” sound and the nyckleharpa seems to have done away with this with crisp and distinct notes… It think I like it better than violin and want to hear more violin pieces with it.
As a fiddle player, I love all string instruments and the different sounds different players can produce. To me the haunting renaissance sound of a Nyckelharpa is beautiful!
Your "Trollposka" on nyckelharpa! Just that quick take was wonderful, subtle and expressive. Thanks 4 all your goodness. Nyckeharpa can do so many things that no other instrument can hope to!
Amazing ! thank you for your video ! , . ! I was just passed down three Hurdy Gurdies and now you help me discover this Nyckelharpa , I want one !. LOVE it ! I am a musicien and luthier . I will make one in all good timing , what a dream , and not to forget , you play so very well .
Great explanation of the various nuances, of the fiddle versus the Nyckelharpa. The resonance of the nyckelharpa is usually a dead giveaway, but sometimes it sounds very much like a fiddle.
Never be able to tell which I liked better. But then again I have always been a fan of the stringed instruments. You have made another beautiful video Emelie.
Some crazy person will play pizzicato by reaching over the top of the instrument to pull the keys by the tangents. This means their thumb and/or other fingers can pluck strings.
Interesting. Aside from resonance, the sound texture jumped out at me much more than the other techniques. Maybe it seems clear to me because I play both violin and viola, and while much more similar than the comparison shown here, those two instruments are still fairly easy for me to tell apart. The heavier strings vibrate differently, even when tuned to the same pitch.
Strangely my viola's D string resonates for almost the same as the nyckelharpa, whereas the rest don't. And my D string is a cheap secondhand string I used to replace the old one when it broke and I didn't have anything else to replace it with. It just rings on forever, but it's a lot more noticeable when I'm amped up.
It has to do with the other strings and mostly with your instrument itself. Each instrument (the body of it) has its note, and yours' seems to be D. It could be fixed by a luthier quite easily I believe, if you explain the problem. Basically the instrument has to be slightly modified (nothing visible nor damaging) to change its natural pitch, and then the D should behave normally =)
I play fiddle and when I first heard this amazing instrument I thought it was a herdy-gerdy, then when I saw it I was reminded of the herdy-gerdy without a cover.
Nyckelharpa is notoriously demanding for the body. Well, violin is too, in its own way. Some bodies will have an easier time with one over the other, while for other people it will be reversed. Violin demands more strength from the left fingers and to keep the violin up, while nyckelharpa demands an unnatural extension of that arm. Bowing on violin has bigger movements but on nyckelharpa you need to counteract the pressure of the tailpiece against your right arm. The biggest difference to me though is the fact that nyckelharpa is much heavier and carried around the neck/on a shoulder.
Could you put GDAE cello strings on and tune a Nycelharpa to make it work better playing violin/ cello music? EDIT: you answered my question. It becomes a Fiddleharpa.
... Maybe ? But the "usual" nyckelharpa IS in the range of a violin - one just has to climb. The climbing is part of the normal range of the instrument =) Otherwise, if one really wants the GDAE tuning, the better option is to go for either a tenor nyckelharpa (one octave under the violin) or a fiolharpa (fiddleharpa) which is tuned all the way up like a violin (but in my opinion these never sound so good). If one wants the range of a cello there's also the oktavharpa (which is basically a cello in nyckelharpa form).
I was thinking the Nyckelharpa sounded closer to viola then violin. Then you talked about the tuning, and yep, its tuned like a viola. Thank you for sharing. I find old folk string instrument fascinating. Just out of curiosity, can Nyckelharp play harmonics?
Do you have different Nyckelharpa models? I know there are Soprano, Tenor, Alto, and cello nyckelharpa and would love to see them all being played to show the difference between the ranges for each instrument. What model are you playing in this video?
I have a quite "standard" model, or equivalent to alto violin (ADGC is my tuning). That's the only one I play consistently and the only one I own. The soprano (EADG) is also called fiddleharpa (fiolharpa in Swedish) and the cello (ADGC but one octave lower than mine) an oktavharpa. I do play fiddle and cello so I don't find the use to have any of these =)
Is the alto violin similar to the viola. I haven't played mine in awhile but those notes you tune to I think are the note I tune to for my viola@@EmelieWaldken
@@EmelieWaldken 2 questions: 1. If you already play the violin, which model would be the most similar. adaptable to learn? (I would think the fiddleharpa?? ...and following on on that.....2. Is the fingering the same as the violin? (except you press the keys?) Thank you.
@@cbest2905 1. There is no difference of technique nor spacing of fingers (or only very, very little) between the alto nyckelharpa (standard) and the fiddleharpa, so... go with the range you prefer =) The alto requires you to "climb" on the keyboard to play fiddle tunes, but the instrument is literally built for that ! 2. Same fingering BUT changing strings is in the reverse direction !
What you're saying about reverb is interesting, because reverb shouldn't be added just to... add reverb. It's a tool to reproduce a setting, a space. So you CAN put reverb on a nyckelharpa, especially if you want it to fit with the rest of the things you're recording. But you'll need good settings for it.
I thought about including it, but vibrato IS possible on nyckelharpa. Very much so. It doesn't sound exactly the same as on violin, and it's a bit harder to produce in my opinion, but it definitely works.
Strange sound in this video. The talking parts are very silent, while the music is very loud, so I feel I have to change the volume many times while listening.
I wonder how much time it took just to make the whole key system. Can't have been a cheap instrument. Which is why it strikes me as odd that such things are considered folk instruments.
Remember that for a long, long time, nyckelharpas didn't have half as many keys as they have today. They were much simpler, thus not as demanding to make by hand (still demanding much skill and time though).
I guess this could be a nice video, but I can't deal with the sound level difference between the music and the narration. I have to turn the volume way up to hear the narration, then when the music starts again I'm waking up the whole house! Somebody needed to do some volume leveling.
Haha, maybe ?! No, joking. Trolls are common creatures of Scandinavia folklore, and polska is our main type of folk dance/rhythm (and yes, its origin is in Poland, somewhen around the 1600s).
Nyckelharpa sounds like it brings its own room with it.
Yeah, It's like built in reverb.
I love this and she say it’s the texture and the hardest part to hear but I think it’s the easiest and most distinctive trait of it…
I always hated the heavy E and A use in violin giving it a “Whiny” sound and the nyckleharpa seems to have done away with this with crisp and distinct notes…
It think I like it better than violin and want to hear more violin pieces with it.
@@ironhell813 Now do the quiz :)
As a fiddle player, I love all string instruments and the different sounds different players can produce. To me the haunting renaissance sound of a Nyckelharpa is beautiful!
Your "Trollposka" on nyckelharpa! Just that quick take was wonderful, subtle and expressive. Thanks 4 all your goodness. Nyckeharpa can do so many things that no other instrument can hope to!
Just had the opportunity to play a friends Nykelharpa. What an incredible instrument! Thanks for the explanation.
Tackar för förklaringen.
Amazing ! thank you for your video ! , . ! I was just passed down three Hurdy Gurdies and now you help me discover this Nyckelharpa , I want one !. LOVE it ! I am a musicien and luthier . I will make one in all good timing , what a dream , and not to forget , you play so very well .
I love your playing and your passion
Great explanation of the various nuances, of the fiddle versus the Nyckelharpa. The resonance of the nyckelharpa is usually a dead giveaway, but sometimes it sounds very much like a fiddle.
The Nyckelharpa uses a Viola tuning but it has an Elongated Body to help the Low C String speak more clearly
Thanks for the very interesting demonstration. I think the nyckelharpa is beautiful & has a deeper sound than the violin.
Yep, and it makes the notes better with echo and reverb
Never be able to tell which I liked better. But then again I have always been a fan of the stringed instruments. You have made another beautiful video Emelie.
Same here, I can't choose. I love both =)
Some crazy person will play pizzicato by reaching over the top of the instrument to pull the keys by the tangents. This means their thumb and/or other fingers can pluck strings.
Nyckelharpan med resonanssträngar av samma typ som låtfiol och Hardangerfela.En jämförelse N.H mot de båda hade också varit spännande. Trevlig kanal.
Bra idé, tack =)
¡Hoy esta usted bellamente vestida! Tenia que decirlo. En cuanto al tema del video, me parecio super educativo. Eres una gran profesora ; )
Vos explications sont excellentes et m'ont beaucoup appris ; merci.
Ravie de l'entendre !
Interesting. Aside from resonance, the sound texture jumped out at me much more than the other techniques. Maybe it seems clear to me because I play both violin and viola, and while much more similar than the comparison shown here, those two instruments are still fairly easy for me to tell apart. The heavier strings vibrate differently, even when tuned to the same pitch.
Yes it's the case for me too. Similar with cello playing up in the register, I can always tell it's a cello and not a viola or violin.
Det var en intressant video.
Strangely my viola's D string resonates for almost the same as the nyckelharpa, whereas the rest don't. And my D string is a cheap secondhand string I used to replace the old one when it broke and I didn't have anything else to replace it with. It just rings on forever, but it's a lot more noticeable when I'm amped up.
It has to do with the other strings and mostly with your instrument itself. Each instrument (the body of it) has its note, and yours' seems to be D. It could be fixed by a luthier quite easily I believe, if you explain the problem. Basically the instrument has to be slightly modified (nothing visible nor damaging) to change its natural pitch, and then the D should behave normally =)
My grandfather was a Swedish folk musician and fiddle maker. He made me a half size nikkleharpa. I still have it.
I play fiddle and when I first heard this amazing instrument I thought it was a herdy-gerdy, then when I saw it I was reminded of the herdy-gerdy without a cover.
Schindler's list theme would sound great on Nyckelharpa
Which one causes more physical stress, combination of different left and right hand positions?
Nyckelharpa is notoriously demanding for the body. Well, violin is too, in its own way. Some bodies will have an easier time with one over the other, while for other people it will be reversed.
Violin demands more strength from the left fingers and to keep the violin up, while nyckelharpa demands an unnatural extension of that arm. Bowing on violin has bigger movements but on nyckelharpa you need to counteract the pressure of the tailpiece against your right arm.
The biggest difference to me though is the fact that nyckelharpa is much heavier and carried around the neck/on a shoulder.
The Nyckelharpa is easier to play in tune than a Violin because the Keys add precision to the finger placement.
Yes, but it's difficult to ensure each key is perfectly in tune, so finger pressure adjustment is needed also.
Could you put GDAE cello strings on and tune a Nycelharpa to make it work better playing violin/ cello music?
EDIT: you answered my question. It becomes a Fiddleharpa.
... Maybe ? But the "usual" nyckelharpa IS in the range of a violin - one just has to climb. The climbing is part of the normal range of the instrument =)
Otherwise, if one really wants the GDAE tuning, the better option is to go for either a tenor nyckelharpa (one octave under the violin) or a fiolharpa (fiddleharpa) which is tuned all the way up like a violin (but in my opinion these never sound so good).
If one wants the range of a cello there's also the oktavharpa (which is basically a cello in nyckelharpa form).
I was thinking the Nyckelharpa sounded closer to viola then violin. Then you talked about the tuning, and yep, its tuned like a viola. Thank you for sharing. I find old folk string instrument fascinating. Just out of curiosity, can Nyckelharp play harmonics?
Every other string instrument is capable of harmonics, so I think it’s almost 100% this instrument can, too.
Of course it can =)
Love your videos! Nice sounds from the microphones! Are these Neumanns?
Yep, the music recordings in this video were done with my pair of Neumanns.
Do you have different Nyckelharpa models? I know there are Soprano, Tenor, Alto, and cello nyckelharpa and would love to see them all being played to show the difference between the ranges for each instrument. What model are you playing in this video?
I have a quite "standard" model, or equivalent to alto violin (ADGC is my tuning). That's the only one I play consistently and the only one I own.
The soprano (EADG) is also called fiddleharpa (fiolharpa in Swedish) and the cello (ADGC but one octave lower than mine) an oktavharpa. I do play fiddle and cello so I don't find the use to have any of these =)
Is the alto violin similar to the viola. I haven't played mine in awhile but those notes you tune to I think are the note I tune to for my viola@@EmelieWaldken
@@SpintressStation "Alto violin" is just a slightly more accurate term for what is usually called in English "viola" =)
@@EmelieWaldken 2 questions: 1. If you already play the violin, which model would be the most similar. adaptable to learn? (I would think the fiddleharpa?? ...and following on on that.....2. Is the fingering the same as the violin? (except you press the keys?) Thank you.
@@cbest2905
1. There is no difference of technique nor spacing of fingers (or only very, very little) between the alto nyckelharpa (standard) and the fiddleharpa, so... go with the range you prefer =) The alto requires you to "climb" on the keyboard to play fiddle tunes, but the instrument is literally built for that !
2. Same fingering BUT changing strings is in the reverse direction !
What you're saying about reverb is interesting, because reverb shouldn't be added just to... add reverb. It's a tool to reproduce a setting, a space. So you CAN put reverb on a nyckelharpa, especially if you want it to fit with the rest of the things you're recording. But you'll need good settings for it.
Reverb could also be added if recording digitally. That way you could add or not and experiment with what sort of space you're trying to reproduce.
I think I like the nyckelharpa better somewhat - it is pretty.
Interesting! I think it’s more difficult to tune a Nyckelharpa than a violin
It really depends actually. Nyckelharpa have more strings but are often more stable than violins. At least mine is ^^
@@EmelieWaldken oh alright. Yeah it can be a pain when violin goes out of tune every time. Especially during summer I sometime don’t have patience
@@ImogenValkyrie Totally relating there ^^' Good luck !
Also another difference would be vibrato
I thought about including it, but vibrato IS possible on nyckelharpa. Very much so. It doesn't sound exactly the same as on violin, and it's a bit harder to produce in my opinion, but it definitely works.
Strange sound in this video. The talking parts are very silent, while the music is very loud, so I feel I have to change the volume many times while listening.
I wonder how much time it took just to make the whole key system. Can't have been a cheap instrument. Which is why it strikes me as odd that such things are considered folk instruments.
Remember that for a long, long time, nyckelharpas didn't have half as many keys as they have today. They were much simpler, thus not as demanding to make by hand (still demanding much skill and time though).
I guess this could be a nice video, but I can't deal with the sound level difference between the music and the narration. I have to turn the volume way up to hear the narration, then when the music starts again I'm waking up the whole house! Somebody needed to do some volume leveling.
I had this issue too. But an excellent video otherwise.
So sorry about that. I tried to edit the sound levels but I don't have good material for that. I will do better next time :)
So really we shouldn't be comparing it to the violin we should be comparing it to the viola.
Beautiful video BUT your voice is much softer that the music and have to keep changing volume
...why You call that first part "trollpolska"? has it something to do with trolling Poland?
Haha, maybe ?! No, joking. Trolls are common creatures of Scandinavia folklore, and polska is our main type of folk dance/rhythm (and yes, its origin is in Poland, somewhen around the 1600s).
@@EmelieWaldken :3 Thanks and greetings from Poland.
Hard to concentrate on the subject, you are so gorgeous! Would love to try a nickelharpa. Must be hard to keep tuned in some conditons(?)
The nyckelharpan sounds better than that violin