Description
Our innovative textbook “Nyckelharpa Up & Down” was published in time for the International Nyckelharpa Days at Fürsteneck Castle in October 2018. This work opens the door to the fascinating world of the nyckelharpa, an instrument that enchants with its unique timbre. Anyone who wants to bring the sonic diversity of the nyckelharpa to life will find a treasure trove of wisdom and practical instructions in this book.
From the basics to the championship
In the first part of the book “Nyckelharpa Up & Down” you will be immersed in the basic principles of sensible and musical bowing. Here you will learn how a skillful sequence of downstrokes and upstrokes not only enriches the music, but also incorporates the body and gravity and uses the special properties of the bow. In addition to the presentation of common bowing patterns, you will gain deep insights into the teachings of the famous violin teacher Leopold Mozart. His 260-year-old rules from the “Gründliche Violinschule” are still an inexhaustible source of inspiration today.
A work for beginners and newcomers
The book “Nyckelharpa Up & Down” is aimed at string players who are switching from violin or viola to nyckelharpa, as well as absolute nyckelharpa beginners. For “non-stringers”, it offers a comprehensive guide to mastering the essential techniques of bowing and skillfully answering the crucial questions about upstrokes and downstrokes. It is a guide to using the bow and at the same time a playbook with chords for playing with guitar, piano or accordion.
Diverse repertoire
The stylistic range of the book “Nyckelharpa Up & Down” extends from classical music through various epochs to international folklore. This makes it perfect for players who are looking for easy to moderately difficult playing material and want to broaden their musical horizons at the same time. All pieces are specially arranged for the nyckelharpa in order to make full use of the instrument’s unique sound.
Practical instructions and tips
A central element of the book “Nyckelharpa Up & Down” is the detailed explanation of the upstroke and downstroke technique, supported by extensive information on bowing. This allows the basic principles to be clearly visible in every piece. In addition, a pattern list provides frequently used stroke shapes, while Leopold Mozart’s tips offer deep insights into the history and technique of bowing.
Prepare to take your nyckelharpa playing to a new level with this instruction book. Whether you are an experienced string player switching to the nyckelharpa or an ambitious beginner, this book will be your faithful companion on the road to mastery.
Foreword
Where do I use the spread and where do I use the smear? Anyone starting out with a string instrument will ask themselves this question again and again and look for rules, guidelines and patterns. This book will focus on the art of the appropriate distribution of upward and downward strokes.
There is a very simple and helpful basic rule for the bowing technique: accented notes are taken with the downstroke, lighter beats with the upstroke. I will use numerous examples to demonstrate how this principle affects playing practice. A pattern list will introduce common stroke forms from the literature and help you to find your own strokes for your music.
It won’t be too dry and theoretical here, because the booklet is largely a playbook in which pieces of music from various centuries and different styles are compiled. Most of the pieces are marked with chords so that you can play along with an accompanying instrument. The booklet is therefore both an introduction to one area of bow work and a collection of pieces for making music together.
And a very famous violin teacher of the past should also have his say here: Leopold Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus’ father dealt with the subject of upstrokes and downstrokes in his “Gründliche Violinschule” from 1756. Leopold Mozart’s rules are over 260 years old – but even today they are a valuable source of inspiration for anyone who is puzzling over them: Where do I use the spread, where the smear?
I wish all nyckel harp players lots of fun immersing themselves in the secrets of bowing – and above all: lots of fun making music!
Yours, Fabian Payr
Text on the back of the book
Basic principles of up and down strokes
If you want to bring the sonic diversity of the nyckelharpa to life, you have to master the art of bowing. This includes, among other things, a sensible sequence of topping and tailings. Making music on the basis of the so-called “stroke rules” involves both the body and gravity and also takes into account the constructive characteristics of the bow.
The first part of this book explains the basic principles of a sensible and musical stroke distribution and presents a variety of common stroke patterns. A famous violin teacher of the past also has his say: Leopold Mozart. The rules from his “Gründliche Violinschule” are over 260 years old – but are still a valuable source of inspiration today. The theoretical part is supplemented by an extensive collection of pieces in which the application of the rules of bowing is demonstrated in practice – with a variety of pieces from different eras and different areas of international folklore.
Author:in
Fabian Payr
Fabian Payr is a remarkable German musician, composer and publicist who was born in 1962. His impressive life story shows that he is a multi-talent in various areas.
Fabian began his academic journey by studying German, Romance languages and literature and theater, film and television studies at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. He later devoted himself to the classical guitar and became a student of Olaf van Gonnissen at the Akademie für Tonkunst Darmstadt.
In addition to his academic career, Fabian Payr is an outstanding musician and has published numerous compositions for the guitar. He has also written instrumental didactic textbooks that help both beginners and experienced musicians to improve their skills.
One of his fascinating ventures is the founding of Musica Viva Musikferien in 1993, together with his wife Ariane. This company offers music workshops for adult amateur musicians and helps to promote the joy of music to the general public.
Fabian’s musical journey began at an early age, when he won the first national prize at “Jugend musiziert” at the age of 15. He later formed the guitar duo “Payr & Zech” together with Christian Zech, which won first prize at the German Phono Academy’s Pop Young Talent Festival in 1983.
His contribution to guitar music is impressive. From solo compositions to guitar quartets, he has created a variety of works that touch the hearts of music lovers worldwide. His textbooks and technique schools have become standard works in the guitar world and have helped many budding guitarists to develop their talent.
