Eric Sahlström
Encyclopedia
Eric Sahlström was a Swedish player of the nyckelharpa
, and riksspelman
awardee from Tobo
in northern Uppland
, Sweden.
Sahlström won great respect for his musicianship in an era when folk music was not yet an established art form. He was hired by Bo Nilson in 1962 to play in a new work at the Venice Biennale
. In 1968 he received the Swedish Local Heritage Federation's medal from Gustaf VI Adolf and the same year the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
's Medaljen för tonkonstens främjande ("Medal for Music Promotion"). He was nominated as a music professor at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm
. In 1976 he was recognised for "artistic quality and importance for Swedish culture", as the first musician to receive that award.
Eric Sahlström is one of those who most contributed most to the renaissance of the nyckelharpa ("key fiddle") in modern times. The instrument at that point had some small popularity amongst a handful of musicians in Uppland, but Sahlström as a design engineer and luthier further developed the instrument, including refining the chromatic nyckelharpa which can play any key. He also composed a large number of folk songs. Among the most famous include the waltz Spelmansglädje ("Fiddler Joy") and the polskas Stormyren and Hardrevet.
A bronze statue of Sahlström was installed outside the folk museum at Tegelsmora. The Eric Sahlström Institute in Tobo
is named after Sahlström.
Nyckelharpa
A nyckelharpa , sometimes called a keyed fiddle, 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...
, and riksspelman
Riksspelman
The title of riksspelman , or "National Folk Musician" of Sweden, is a generally recognized badge of mastery for Swedish folk musicians. It is an honor bestowed upon bearers of the silver or gold Zorn Badge, awarded annually by the Zorn Jury, a panel of experts under the auspices of Svenska...
awardee from Tobo
Tobo
Tobo is a locality situated in Tierp Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 616 inhabitants in 2005....
in northern Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
, Sweden.
Sahlström won great respect for his musicianship in an era when folk music was not yet an established art form. He was hired by Bo Nilson in 1962 to play in a new work at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. In 1968 he received the Swedish Local Heritage Federation's medal from Gustaf VI Adolf and the same year the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
's Medaljen för tonkonstens främjande ("Medal for Music Promotion"). He was nominated as a music professor at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm
Royal College of Music, Stockholm
The Royal College of Music, Stockholm is the oldest institution of higher education in music in Sweden, founded in 1771 as the conservatory of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music...
. In 1976 he was recognised for "artistic quality and importance for Swedish culture", as the first musician to receive that award.
Eric Sahlström is one of those who most contributed most to the renaissance of the nyckelharpa ("key fiddle") in modern times. The instrument at that point had some small popularity amongst a handful of musicians in Uppland, but Sahlström as a design engineer and luthier further developed the instrument, including refining the chromatic nyckelharpa which can play any key. He also composed a large number of folk songs. Among the most famous include the waltz Spelmansglädje ("Fiddler Joy") and the polskas Stormyren and Hardrevet.
A bronze statue of Sahlström was installed outside the folk museum at Tegelsmora. The Eric Sahlström Institute in Tobo
Tobo
Tobo is a locality situated in Tierp Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 616 inhabitants in 2005....
is named after Sahlström.