The other week I wandered over to the Scandinavian Fair being hosted over at the local university, admittedly in hopes of meeting Swedish girls. Instead I discovered that there are no Scandinavians in the Pacific Northwest younger than fifty or with a sweater rated better than “awful”. I also discovered this:
Does anyone have any idea what this instrument is? It’s held like a guitar, but he uses a curved bow to play it like a fiddle, and it’s got all those keys along the neck. Any takers?
December 15th, 2008 on 11:25 pm
Harumpf. As a (1/4) Swede, I take exception.
December 16th, 2008 on 3:50 am
I think it’s just a bad time of year to be a sweater — doubly so if you happen to be owned by anyone over the age of 65. Magically, you suddenly become ugly.
Totally through Wikipedia — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyckelharpa
December 16th, 2008 on 5:37 am
It’s a Sarangi, an Indian instrument.
Hello, Vahid.
December 16th, 2008 on 6:55 am
It is a nyckelharpa. Did you learn any of the dances? I like scandanavian dancing but can only do the hambo or a polska unless someone is a really good lead.
December 16th, 2008 on 6:59 am
I stand corrected. Never heard of a nyckelharpa. Very similar.
Hello again.
December 16th, 2008 on 9:22 am
it’s obviously a keyolin, precursor to the keytar, which will make a comeback, i promise you. god bless the 1980s.
December 16th, 2008 on 12:14 pm
Forget the instrument. What do you mean there were no Swedish girl? That is truly sad.
December 16th, 2008 on 12:51 pm
When I was about 4, my mom made me take violin lessons. I hated them and threw the violin at the teacher when I got frustrated. I was kicked out. This thing looks cool, but even more frustrating to learn than the violin!
December 16th, 2008 on 10:28 pm
Ah, the Swdish nyckelharpa… sounds kind of like a violin, but you use keys to fret instead of your fingers.
December 16th, 2008 on 11:48 pm
Apparently I am the last person to know about the nyckelharpa craze that is sweeping the nation. Well, except for Scott, but he knew all about the sarangi. I am so uncultured sometimes.
December 18th, 2008 on 12:58 pm
Never heard of the sarangi OR the nyckelharpa, AND I live in the middle of nowhere, so I believe I win the contest for “uncultured” here.
Now, what’s my prize?
December 18th, 2008 on 1:23 pm
Those long keys look like doorstops.
December 18th, 2008 on 10:28 pm
shari, your prize is to drink with me sometime in the next few months.
dana, to be honest the reminded me of the pillars of an old abandoned pier. can’t quite say why.
December 19th, 2008 on 8:49 pm
Yes … nykelharpa. Sounds like a Hardangfele … hardangerfiddle, only keyed …. er, what I mean is, it sounds like a Swedish Sitar.
December 20th, 2008 on 7:59 pm
I think the instrument is an acoustic “bitchtoplayolin.”