I’d like to send all sessioneers my very best wishes on World Nyckelharpa Day today (April 26th). Perhaps it’s an occasion to share ideas about how traditional Irish music can benefit from this wonderful instrument, and to suggest tunes that lend themselves to being nyckelharped. Let me start with a slip jig - The Humours of Derrycrossane - and those old Carolan favourites, Planxty Irwin and Miss Fanny Power.
Happy Nyckelharping to all!
Congratulations on your special instrument day! Unusual instruments can add to the music or my case - subtract. I finally opted to learn my first tune on the vibraphone I’ve been restoring just this morning. I was hoping to learn something jazzy but wound out picking out Paddy Fahey’s Jig #4. The vibraphone is not a very suitable instrument for ITM. Nope - not at all.
@Bazza: Can you point us to any good examples of Irish music played on Nyckelharpa? Genuinely curious…
There is an interesting collab with Leo Rickard on Uilleann pipes and Peter Puma Hedlund on Nyckelharpa. The group is called the Sea Stallions. I’d love to hear more projects like this!
https://www.amazon.com/Halsingland-Howth-Sea-Stallions/dp/B009PEPJO4