Music of the Day, 3 July 2024

are you ready for another unusual instrument?

I hinted¹ in my summer solstice post that in my search for a suitable piece to feature that day, I’d found other “interesting music” to share some day. One of those days has arrived.

To be more precise than I was in June, I meant that I’d discovered some new instruments, and possibly a new fascination. Since June 20, I’ve returned to them frequently, exploring more of this marvelous music. The instrument I’ll focus on today is the Swedish nyckelharpa—a crazy-looking instrument with a sound that grabbed me from the first note.

I don’t recall what video I listened to first,² so today I’ll feature three pieces, to give you a fuller sense of the instrument. First is a modern nyckelharpa piece.

American Chris Rippey composed and performed this piece, “Angels and Ravens.” The “about Chris” page on his website doesn’t reveal how he discovered the nyckelharpa, but does provide hints about his love of music and explorations in it across cultures.

Today’s second piece is also an original composition, from Swedish hobby luthier/musician Magnus Högman. I did find this short, lovely piece last month.

Högman built the bass nyckelharpa on which he’s playing³ “The Twinkling Star.” Both the title and the gorgeously earthy, resonant music make me think of Firefly. This tune would have been right at home in an episode of the show … but this Browncoat would much rather be cozy in a cabin on a long Swedish winter night, in a sweater⁴ similar to Högman’s and listening to him play.

And now for something really different: Swedish nyckelharpa player Torbjörn Näsbom playing Bach’s “Chaconne.”

It’s Bach’s Partita in D Minor for solo violin (BWV1004). A lovely combination of Baroque and folk.

1. Probably “threatened” for some of you

2. many of the pieces I listened to that day are too short to feature alone, as they feel more like excerpts than a complete composition

3. based on other videos, he is right-handed, not a lefty; this video appears to be reversed

4. as a knitter who’s still improving their colorwork skills, I must say that his sweater is as much a work of art as his bass nyckelharpa and music