Playing the nyckelharpa

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Textbook by Jule Bauer in German and English

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ISBN: 978-3-943060-02-7 SKU: NYS Category: Tag:

Description

Discover the fascinating Swedish string instrument nyckelharpa with the instruction book “Playing the nyckelharpa” by Jule Bauer.

The nyckelharpa: a historical overview

The nyckelharpa is a fascinating musical instrument. It was first rediscovered in Sweden in the 1960s, spread rapidly and developed from an almost unknown folk music instrument in this country to an internationally recognized string instrument in many different areas of music today.

Why learn the nyckelharpa?

Its unique, expressive sound inspires, arouses curiosity and awakens in many people the desire to learn this instrument. For a long time, there were only a few teaching opportunities or game courses outside Sweden. This new textbook “Playing the nyckelharpa” by Jule Bauer aims to remedy this!

Jule Bauer: An expert introduces herself

The author has had a close relationship with the nyckelharpa for a long time and was the first graduate of the “European Nyckelharpa Training”. Since 2003 she has been teaching singing and nyckelharpa at various courses for early music and world music and since 2009 she has been a lecturer for nyckelharpa at the Akademie BURG FÜRSTENECK (D), the Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli (I) and since 2012 at the Conservatoire intercommunal de musique des deux vallées in Milly la Forêt (F).

The textbook: A comprehensive guide

The well thought-out pedagogical concept of this textbook, which has already proven itself in practice, guarantees the best guidance you could wish for when starting to explore the nyckelharpa. It teaches all the essential basics for playing and getting to know the nyckelharpa, such as the history and construction of the nyckelharpa, the structure of the instrument, how to hold the instrument, bow position, tuning, and important musical basics.

From the basics to mastery

You are systematically guided from the first bow stroke through to the art of playing in the various keys and styles. In the appendix, the author deals with important physiological aspects that should be considered when practicing and making music.

A rich repertoire

The more than 50 melodies included provide an exciting and varied repertoire that is carefully adapted to the learning progress. Numerous exercises help you work through the 22 chapters. Many illustrations clarify the learning content or show interesting facts from the world of the nyckelharpa.

For beginners and advanced

All melodies and exercises in the textbook “Playing the Nyckelharpa” are designed for chromatic nyckelharpa with three rows of keys and are notated for both continental tuning (fifth-quint-fifth) and traditional Swedish tuning (sixth-fourth-fifth).

With a foreword by Per-Ulf Allmo. The book “Playing the Nyckelharpa” is written bilingually in German and English.

Additional information

Weight 0,540 kg
ISBN-13

978-3-943060-02-7

GTIN

9783943060027

Pages

118

Customs tariff number

49019900

Country of manufacture

EN

Foreword

by Per-Ulf Allmo

I have always liked the nyckelharpa for many reasons. Here in Sweden this has been easy. Since the 1960s I have followed its rediscovery from an unknown folk instrument to its current international reputation in so many different musical fields.

Those were the days: the great rise of folk music in Sweden in the 1970s – I was there and, like everyone else, was thrilled by the new instrument makers and musicians of all ages in the 1980s; all the big festivals and courses and, in recent years, even the opportunity to study the nyckelharpa at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm (KMH).

For me personally, it was important to meet the great musicians who were still alive when the rise began, but also to meet those who were no longer with us, but whom I got to know through the archives, pictures and early recordings.

It was not so long ago that the nyckelharpa began to spread outside Sweden. Today, they are mainly found in Europe, but are now also found all over the world. Their unique sound arouses curiosity and many people want to start playing. But how can you do that? It’s not difficult in Sweden, you learn from others and there is a good selection of courses. These options do not exist in other countries.

This book will not disappoint you. The author has had a deep and close relationship with the nyckelharpa for a long time. Through playing and singing with the nyckelharpa and performing, she has realized that the instrument is a part of her personality, perhaps even able to express her soul. This great experience is the best basis if you wish to pass on the special joy of playing the nyckel harp to others.

This background of the author and a well thought-out pedagogical concept guarantee the best guidance you could wish for if you really want to play the nyckelharpa.

The book begins by setting the scene: What kind of instrument is it? The nyckelharpa will be a much closer friend once you know more about its history and construction. Handling and holding the instrument, tuning and string techniques are just some of the skills that are illustrated. There is even a short introduction to reading music.

Thanks to the author’s in-depth knowledge, you will quickly come to the central question of the book: How do you actually play the nyckelharpa? This means that you will gradually learn EVERYTHING from the first bow stroke to the art of playing in different keys. One appendix even deals with important physiological aspects that you, or rather your body, should consider.

When you have reached the end of the book through diligent practicing and can put it aside, you are ready to begin the journey to your own music, alone or in collaboration with other musicians. This can open up a world for you.

The need for such a book cannot be emphasized enough – here it is!

Per-Ulf

Contents

  1. Acknowledgments
  2. Foreword
  3. Introduction
  4. The history of the nyckelharpa
  5. Structure of the instrument
  6. Instrument holding
    • Playing position without belt
    • Playing position with belt
  7. The traditional way of keeping
  8. Attitude according to Didier François
  9. Posture according to Jule Bauer
  10. Posture with a cross belt
  11. The bow
    • The bow hand
    • The bow position
  12. Mood
  13. Brief musical notation
    • Note values
    • Diatonics
    • Chromatics
  14. A short introduction to notation
  15. About “Practicing”
  16. Practical part
    1. First bowing on the empty strings
      • Preliminary exercise double strings
      • Rhythmic variations on empty strings
    2. The keyboard hand
    3. First fingered major scales on one string
    4. First fingered pieces in 4/4 time
    5. Pieces in the fifth range
      • Play-in melody for every day
    6. First fingered minor scales on one string
      • Ripresa d ́arco
      • First pieces in different time signatures
      • Bindings (Legato)
    7. Bindings of 2
    8. Multi-tone bindings
    9. String change
    10. First pieces on 2 strings
      • Canon
      • D.C. Al Fine
      • Volta
      • Polska
      • Eighth polska bow pattern
      • Triplets
      • Portato
    11. Dynamics
      • Staccato
    12. String change over 3 strings
    13. First pieces over 3 strings
    14. Tonality
    15. The major / minor tonal system
      • C major scale
      • A minor scale (melodic)
      • G major scale
      • E minor scale
      • F major scale
      • D minor scale
      • D major scale
      • B minor scale
      • Bb major scale
      • G minor scale
    16. Final piece
  17. Appendix
    1. Body awareness
    2. Exercises to loosen the shoulders and back muscles
    3. Prevention and avoidance of finger and wrist problems
    4. Exercises to warm up and loosen the fingers
    5. Exercises to prevent tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
    6. The bow hand (bow technique)
      • Bow exercises
    7. Overview, explanation of music theory
    8. List of songs and melodies
    9. References
  18. Keyboard layout (fold-out page)

Text on the back of the book

This comprehensive textbook covers all the essential basics for getting to know and play the nyckelharpa, such as the structure of the instrument, holding the instrument, bowing, tuning, musical basics, exercises and first melodies.

It leads the learner step by step to playing the instrument.

The numerous melodies and exercises included are designed for chromatic nyckelharpa with three (or four) rows of keys and are notated both for fifth tuning (fifth-fifth-fifth-fifth) and for traditional tuning (sixth-fourth-fourth-fifth). Melodies and exercises used in the textbook are available as sheet music and additionally, for learning by ear, as MIDI files via download

Author:in

Jule Bauer

Vocal training with a focus on “early music” with Diane Severson and Franziska Schäfer-Vondru (Frankfurt), among others. Master classes with Cornelius Reid and Carol Baggott-Forte at Dr. Hoch ́s Conservatory (Frankfurt) and with Montserrat Figueras at the Musikhochschule Trossingen. Studied the nyckelharpa at the Scuola di musica popolare in Forlimpopoli (Italy). First graduate of the “European Nyckelharpa Training”. Studied musicology and music education at the J. W. Goethe University (Frankfurt). Since 1995 international concerts and recordings with various ensembles for early music, folk and world music. (Triskilian, Oni Wytars, CADENCE, Encore, CAB,…). Since 2003 teaching singing and nyckelharpa at various courses for early music and world music. Since 2009 lecturer for nyckelharpa at the Akademie BURG FÜRSTENECK (Germany), the Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli (Italy) and since 2012 at the Conservatoire intercommunal de musique des deux vallées in Milly la Forêt (France).