The kontrabasharpa is a type of nyckelharpa that was popular in the 1700s. The main difference to the modern nyckelharpas is that it is a drone instrument and that the keyboard layout is different (one row of keys for two melody strings, almost like on a hurdy gurdy). The drone string lies inbetween the melody strings, hence the name "kontrabas".

The first time I heard a kontrabasharpa in real life was many years ago when my good friend and teacher Josefina Paulson showed her kontrabasharpa to me. I was absolutely amazed by the sound, which I think is both a bit rougher, but also sweeter than on the modern types. I've been on the search for a kontrabasharpa since then, but it's quite hard to get one, since not many luthiers still built this type of harpa.

However, earlier this year, I got the chance to buy a use kontrabasharpa built by Olle Plahn from a friend. The harpa needed some love and there are still some things to improve/fix, but after some work and a set of new strings, it now plays and sounds quite nicely. Thanks to my friends David Eriksson, Regina Kunkel and Wynand Bjergson for their ideas and help!

I'm still getting used to this instrument and I think it will be some time until I really get it, but it's a lot of fun to play. So here's a tune! A senpolska from Haverö that I learnt from the playing of Daniel Pettersson.

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