October 8 - 11, 2026

8^th October, 8:30 pm: public Nyckelharpa Concert, entrance free
9^th October, evening: Conference on "Recent Developments"
10^th October,evening: “Open Stage,” participant concert

… more than just a weekend of playing!

Nyckelharpa Builder and Bow Maker
Exhibition, consultation, trying out of different instruments
Small on-site repairs and attaching new bow hair

Holger Funke, Germany (www.nyckel-harpa.de)
Annette Osann, France (www.annetteosann.jimdofree.com)
Tino Mixan, Austria (https://nyckelharpa-bows.com/)
Johan Hertogs, Belgium (www.jh-nyckelharpas.com/)
Aurélie Georges, Italy (www.aureliegeorgesbows.com)
Amrey Schaffeld, Germany, www.nyckelharpabauerin.de
Johannes Mayr, Germany lharpa-bau.de)

et al.

Prior notice 2027:
24^rd International Days of the Nyckelharpa, October 7 – 10, 2027

The nyckelharpa (Schlüsselfidel, viola d’amore con chiavi, keyed fiddel) is a string instrument played with a short bow and keys that change the pitch. Its resonance strings contribute to its unique sound. From Late Middle Ages the nyckelharpa emerged in Europe. However since the Baroque Period it has only been played in Sweden mainly around Upland as a folk instrument.Thanks to innovative Swedish musicians and instrument makers, in particular August Bohlin and Eric Sahlström, and inspired musicians inside and outside Sweden, the nyckelharpa has been rediscovered all over the world for several decades and is increasingly being played in many musical styles. For this success story of preserving and spreading a cultural asset through international cooperation, the “Nyckelharpa Network”, which also includes the European Nyckelharpa Training and the International Nyckelharpa Days at Fürsteneck Castle as well as the two EU projects CADENCE and ENCORE, was included in the UNESCO register of “Good Safeguarding Practices” as “Intangible World Heritage” in 2023.

This invitation is intended for people from everywhere with all levels of nyckelharpa experience (as well as people motivated to learn) to play, share experiences, and take lessons together.
Instruction will be given mostly in English. Additional languages are possible depending on the teachers. Some help with different languages is usually available by participants in the single workshops.

Instruction will be given mostly in English. Additional languages are possible depending on the teachers. Some help with different languages is usually available by participants in the single workshops..

We are planning (subject to alterations):

• Workshop for beginners and slightly advanced players (The group will be divided according to topic and need)
  (Some instruments are available for rent at a fee of € 50. Please don't forget to tell us at time of registration if you need one.)


• Caterina Other and Petra Krebs
• Handling the nyckelharpa
• Fundamentals of using the bow
• Use of the left hand
• Easy repertoire



• Continuous Workshops with special topics for advanced players
(These courses are designed to enable themed work and require basic playing skills. For less experienced players participants should attend the more appropriate workshop given by Annette Osann.)


• Sérgio Calisto
• Portuguese folk music


• Jule Bauer
• Nyckelharpa and singing
  A dialogue with the nyckelharpa – Techniques, tips and tricks to accompany yourself with the nyckelharpa while singing and to find beautiful song accompaniments.


• Magnus Holmström and Markus Svensson
• Swedish folk music and different playing techniques for nyckelharpa


• Annette Osann
• Consort music and dance suites of the Renaissance (sheet music will be sent out in advance for this course)



The following cours is aimed at somewhat more advanced nyckelharpa players and requires preparation using previously sent sheet music and/or exercises.

• Didier François
• Contemporary music, original compositions for nyckelharpa – New compositions welcome, please submit by early August at the latest.
  

• Public nyckelharpa concert (Thursday, 8^th October 8:00 pm, free entrance)


• Conference on recent developments (Friday, 9^th October, evening)


• “Open Stage” – Participant Concert (Saturday, 10^th October, evening)


• Mutual Presentation of Workshop Results (Sunday, 10^th October)


• Short workshops with the other teachers for even more sharing
  amongst others with Marco Ambrosini


• Free playing together and sharing of experience
• Playing in different groups
• and in different styles


• Exposition about the nyckelharpa
• History of the nyckelharpa, from the mora to the e-harpa – Holger E. Funke
• Exchange with the nyckelharpa and bow makers
• Opportunity to try out
• Repairs
• Consultation service


• Forum for instrument makers
  
• Exchange of experience among the participating builder and presentation of their own developments
• Discussion of different instrument styles and their implications building and acoustics
• Exchange with the teachers and participants of the playing workshops to their requirements of the instruments
• Visits of participants in the exhibition
• Expansion of the own network in the nyckelharpa scene
  The number of places for instrument and bow makers is limited, early application is recommended.

Planning and overall direction: Marco Ambrosini and Karsten Evers

The nyckelharpa teachers:
Possibly the number of teachers and/or the main topics, in particular of the short workshops, might be expanded depending on special guests or course occupancy. The earlier you register, the better we can plan.

Jule Bauer, Karlstein (Germany), took part in the European Nyckelharpa Training at the Scuola di Musica Popolare in Forlimpopoli (Italien). She studied the science of music at the J.W.Goethe University (Frankfurt). She has played with different early music, folk music and world music groups for several years. In 2013, Jule published her comprehansive nyckelharpa handbook "Playing Nyckelharpa . Nyckelharpa spielen" written both in English as in German. She studied nyckelharpa, graduating with a concert exam (C.O.P. Certificate of Performance) from the Conservatorio Bruno Maderna in Cesena (Italy).
More at: www.sonnenklang.de

Sérgio Calisto, Porto (Portugal) is a freelance musician with a master's degree in music education (cello) from the University of Aveiro and a certificate of completion from the European Nyckelharpa Advanced Training Program. He participated in the ENCORE project – European Nyckelharpa Cooperation – Orchestral Experience. (https://www.nyckelharpa.eu/encore/) and works as a teacher and musician for cello and nyckelharpa. His areas of interest include early music, folk music, and the exploration of extended playing techniques. He is a founding member of Ensemble Med (medieval; Mediterranean), EuropAntiqua (nyckelharpa ensemble), and João Martins & Sérgio Calisto (hurdy-gurdy and nyckelharpa duo).
More at: www.facebook.com/sergiocalistomusic/ and www.meloteca.com/portfolio-item/sergio-calisto/

Didier François, Antwerpen (Belgium), studied violin, composition and Jazz in Brussels and Amsterdam. He has performed on violin and nyckelharpa with Stefane Grappelli, Gabriel Yacoub, Michel Risler, Armand Amar. He has composed for ballet, film and theatre, is a sculptor, and he has been teaching for many years.
More at: www.didierfrancois.be

Magnus Holmström, Sigtuna (Sweden), is a professional nyckelharpa player and an experienced teacher. He studied at the Eric Sahlström Institute in Tobo and at the Royal Collage of Music in Stcokholm. In 2004, he won the Worldchampionships with “Gammelharpa” (old style nyckelhapra) and in 2006 both with “Gammelharpa” and modern nyckelharpa. In 2006, he also won the award; “musician of honour” at Burträsksvängen and in 2008 the Bror Hjorth Scholarship. Magnus is a highly experienced teacher and director of the Eric Sahsltröm Institute in Tobo, Sweden's national institute for folk music and folk dance.
More at: www.magnusholmstrom.com

Petra Krebs, Ettingen (Switzerland), is an ambitious amateur musician and performs in various formations from folk to classical music. The nyckelharpa has really won her heart. From 2019 to 2025, she took part in the European Nyckelharpa Training and successfully completed it with a certificate on July 30, 2025. She travels throughout Europe for concerts, courses, lessons and playing together. She enjoys organising events for musicians to meet up for spontaneous music-making.
More at: www.des-dudels-kern.ch/

Annette Osann, Dole (France), is a trained violin maker, and since 1998 specialized in building nyckelharpas. After various ensemble activities for early and traditional music as a cellist and nyckelharpa player she is using the nyckelharpa today mainly in Baroque music. 2005, foundation of the duo Arcangelo with Juliette Thiebergien (baroque cello), and since 2009, chamber music. Cooperation in the duo nyckelharpa and organ with Elise Rollin (organ). Since 2013, together with Caterina Other, Jule Bauer and Susanne Brameshuber founding of "Nyckelharpa quartett", 2014, founding of the ensemble for Renaissance and Baroque music "Le Insolite Note". She studied nyckelharpa, graduating with a concert exam (C.O.P. Certificate of Performance) from the Conservatorio Bruno Maderna in Cesena (Italy).
More at: www.annetteosann.fr

Markus Svensson, Gotland (Sweden), is a professional nyckelharpa player and has been teaching nyckelharpa and Swedish folk music for over 30 years. He studied at the Royal Collage of Music in Stockholm, and at Malungs Folkhögskola. Markus plays all kinds of nyckelharpas and has a wide repertoire of tunes from all parts of Sweden. He became ”Riksspelman” in 1992 and won the nyckelharpa world championship in 1998. Since 2018 he is a part of the ”Zornmärkesjuryn” (the jury that awards the title “Riksspelman”).
More at: facebook.com/markus.svensson

The International Days of the Nyckelharpa at BURG FÜRSTENECK start on Thursday, 8th October, 2026 with a welcome before dinner at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday, 11th October, 2026 at 1:00 pm. Fee: 430 – 530 € (self-assessment including acommodation in twin room and food), youth fee 215 €, subsidized rate & exhibitors 301 € The course fees include accommodation in a twin room at the castle in and meals – also vegetarian, vegan or allergy-friendly on request. Discounts = reduced fees for young people, low-income and exhibitors Youth fee is available for young persons up to 26 years of age. The subsidized rate can be granted to people who are on a low income and are in receipt of statutory social benefits or only have a comparable low income (proof required). Exhibitors who built professionally nyckelharpa can apply for the 30%.discount. Please indicate a dicount at the time of registration and provide proof. No discount can be granted retrospectively. Rental charges remain unaffected. Registration online (You can switch the form to English above the page title. Please indicate any required loan instrument in the "Comments" field.) Concert videos from past International Days of the Nyckelharpa can be found at www.youtube.com/user/FuerstNyckel/playlists (Many thanks to the artists and to Bernd Segnitz, who produced the videos. Please also note our two-year part-time Eurpoean Nyckelharpa Training www.nyckelharpa.eu European Nyckelharpa Training CADENCE – Cultural ADult Education and Nyckelharpa Coopreration in Europe ENCORE – European Nyckelharpa Cooperation – ORchestral Experience Nyckelharpa – books BURG FÜRSTENECK Am Schlossgarten 3 D-36132 Eiterfeld Germany Tel: +49 (0) 6672-92020 Fax: +49 (0) 6672-9202-30 www.burg-fuersteneck.de Impressum