Description
“Nyckelharpa Etudes” is a collection of exercises compiled by internationally renowned virtuoso Marco Ambrosini to offer players of this unique instrument a way to improve their playing technique. This book is a fundamental contribution to the development of the nyckelharpa, a stringed instrument whose pitch is altered with a keyboard and which has been documented in music history since around 1350.
The key fiddle
The nyckelharpa is a stringed instrument in which the strings are bowed with a bow. The pitch is changed using the keyboard, the “keys”. Resonance strings contribute to the special sound. Depending on the design, the instrument has one or more rows of keys.
A journey through history
The nyckelharpa has been documented since around 1350 and was used until the 17th century. played in various European countries. It is also described as a key fiddle by Praetorius and Agricola. From the 17th century. it was used exclusively in Swedish folklore.
“Nyckelharpa Etudes” in the focus of music education
Anyone learning to play a classical instrument will be very familiar with etudes, as they are the ideal way to improve playing technique, fluency and speed. To master the musical potential of the nyckelharpa, musicians now have access to a collection of exercises by the internationally renowned virtuoso Marco Ambrosini.
The “Nyckelharpa Etudes” are notated for both 3- and 4-row “Swedish” tuned instruments (sixth-fourth-fifth), as well as for “continental” tuned nyckelharpas (fifth-fifth-fifth-fifth), which is preferred above all for instruments made in Central Europe.
Tailor-made exercises for the nyckelharpa
With the book “Nyckelharpa Etudes” the author has provided the growing scene of nyckelharpa players with profound working material. With his work in the CADENCE project and with this textbook, he has made a fundamental contribution to ensuring that the nyckelharpa receives the attention and dissemination it deserves. There will probably never be a comparable book of etudes for other traditional instruments.
All texts and explanations in this book are in Italian, German and English!
