About Nyckelblog

 

NYCKELBLOG: A blog series about the nyckelharpa. A Swedish string instrument? Maybe... An old instrument? That depends on how you look at it. A keyed violin? A string piano? Or neither. Everything is discussed: origin and history, technology, applications, training, organisations, you name it. Suggestions are welcome, in comments or in an email to jos@joskoning.nl. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Jos Koning studied at Amsterdam University, masters in both musicology (emphasis ethnomusicology) and cultural anthropology. PhD in social sciences. He also has a degree in Dutch language. Main areas of scientific interest: everyday (use of) music in the past and present, in Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden, with emphasis on what people call folk music, and folk music revivals. Jos was born in Amsterdam (1950) but lived in Ireland, Sweden and Germany, since 2013 back in the Netherlands. Fluent in Dutch, Swedish, English and German.

But this is all one side of the medal. The other is: Jos is a professional musician and has been so for nearly 50 years. He worked in over 30 ensembles, in hard rock, classical music but mostly folk music. As a violinist (later: 5-string viola) he contributed to 65 albums. Fascinated by resonance strings, he started on the viola d'amore 2008, and on the nyckelharpa 2018. At present, these two are his main instruments.

Main present ensembles: 

Resonans - the Dutch Nyckelharpa Quartet (www.resonanskwartet.nl)

Duo Gott Folk! (www.gottfolk.nl) with Swedish music and songs

4Reel (www.4reelfolk.nl) with "celtic" music