And again we have wrong name of instrument. It's much closer to violin than to harp. I wonder why most of instrument have "harp" in their names...
Some information from Wikipedia:
A nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish musical instrument. It is a string instrument or chordophone. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when a key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string.
The nyckelharpa is similar in appearance to a fiddle or the bowed Byzantine lira. Structurally, it is more closely related to the hurdy gurdy, both employing key-actuated tangents to change the pitch.
A depiction of two instruments, possibly but not confirmed nyckelharpas, can be found on a relief dating from c1350 in one of the gates to Källunge church on Gotland. Early church paintings are found in Siena, Italy, 1408 and in different churches in Denmark and Sweden, i.e. Tolfta church, Sweden, c 1460-1525.
Traditionally, and presently, the nyckelharpa is played with a strap around the neck, stabilized by the right arm. Didier François, violinist and nyckelharpist from Belgium, is noted for using a unique playing posture. Holding the nyckelharpa vertically in front of the chest, one is able to move both arms in a more natural and relaxed fashion. The overall tone and sound of the instrument is affected by this non-traditional position. Using a violin bracket to keep the nyckelharpa away from the body so it can swing freely also causes it to sound more "open".
Example of playing:
beautiful!
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