Unboxing Instruments - Langspil

NiccoloSeligmann.com
Welcome to Unboxing Instruments, exploring history and sound with Niccolo Seligmann's collection of 50+ musical instruments!
Today's Episode: The Icelandic Langspil
Built by Ken Koons, 2013
Like the scheitholt (see episode 1 if you need a reminder!) the Icelandic langspil is a bowed drone zither, and possibly one of the ancestors of the Appalachian mountain dulcimer. Only one of the three metal strings is a "melody string," with a chromatic fretboard underneath allowing me to play in any mode. This instrument, as well as the fiðla, represent two of Iceland's native instruments, both having been socially "replaced" by violins during and since Iceland's Danish occupation. Now the traditional instruments are experiencing a cultural resurgence, led by musicians like my langspil mentors, Bára Grimmsdottir & Chris Foster of the band Funí, who have put together impressive research materials on this little-known instrument. Check those materials out at funi-iceland.com/research.