The Partner Institutes of the European Nyckelharpa Cooperation

Eric Sahlström Institutet, Tobo, Sweden

The "Eric Sahlström Institute” (ESI) is a foundation with the mission to support Swedish folk music, folkdance and folksong. Special attention is placed on the nyckelharpa. ESI was founded in 1998 by the Eric Sahlström Memorial Foundation and is Sweden’s first national folk music centre. The board consists of representatives from the prime and largest national organizations of folk music and folkdance, the Eric Sahlström Memorial Foundation and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. The institute receives funding from the Swedish Arts Council, Uppsala County Council and the Municipality of Tierp. It is situated in a manor house from late 19th century in the small village of Tobo in northern Uppland.
For hundreds of years the nyckelharpa was played only in Uppland, but thanks to Eric Sahlström (1912-1986), who was an extraordinarily skilled nyckelharpa player, composer and nyckelharpa maker living in Tobo, the instrument gained in popularity. Today it is played all over Sweden as well as in many other countries and used in various genres.
Every year about 200 people take part in workshops and courses in folk music, folkdance and folksong at ESI. There are two courses running over a year "Nyckelharpa and Fiddle playing” and "Folkdance”. In addition, there are courses of different length dealing with various instruments and subjects as for example nyckelharpa, fiddle, clarinet, harmonica, Scandinavian folk dances, folk song and also nyckelharpa building.
About 500 people visit concerts, open-house activities, seminars and other events at the institute every year. ESI organizes networks and meetings between national organizations of folk music, folkdance and folksong. A couple of Nordic seminars have also been carried out.

Homepage: www.esitobo.org

Eric Sahlström Institutet

Bruksgatan 3
SE-748 50 Tobo
Sweden
+46 295 342 93
info@esitobo.org

Eric Sahlström Institutet

Tobo, Schweden

Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli, Italy

The "Scuola di Musica Popolare” (SMP) is a music school in Forlimpopoli (region of Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy). It was founded in 1986 by the City of Forlimpopoli and some time later transformed into a "Cultural Association”. This means that all its students and teachers are members of this association and govern the school democratically.
The Rocca, a fortress built by Cardinal Albornoz between 1360 and 1365, and a former Augustinian convent of the 14th century, house the school’s classrooms. The buildings belong to the city of Forlimpopoli who grants the school the right to use them.
The school’s main activity is teaching adult learners of all ages mainly from the region. Most courses are held weekly as evening classes. The school offers lessons for more than 30 musical instruments associated with folk music from different parts of the world. One focus is on the folklore of the region. Some other courses, like the European Nyckelharpa Training, have nationwide relevance and are organized as residential courses of several days.
Moreover the Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli realizes CD-productions and other projects, organizes public festivals and concerts as a cultural support for the community and region. About 250 members per year and several thousand people participate as students or as audience in the activities (courses, workshops, concerts) organized by the school.

Homepage: www.musicapopolare.net

Suola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli

Piazza Fratti, 2
I - 47034 Forlimpopoli
Italy
+39 543 444621
smpposta@alice.it

Castle of Forlimpopoli

Forlimpopoli, Italy

Akademie Burg Fürsteneck, Eiterfeld, Germany

The "Academy Burg Fürsteneck” in Germany, Eiterfeld (district of Fulda), was founded in 1952 as an institute for adult education. The medieval castle, first mentioned in 1309 and well conserved, was reconstructed for this new use by Otto Bartning, a famous German architect. In 2004 the interior was modernized again. The management of the institution is formed by an association as a "round table” of various social institutions. Burg Fürsteneck is financed by the fees of its students and subsidised by the German State of Hesse.
The academy offers a very broad range of vocational courses and cultural education. The concept of education is holistically in the combination of professional, social/political and cultural education. Music is one key aspect of the activities. Participants come from all over Germany and for some courses even from abroad. The courses are always full board residential at the medieval castle and last from two days to two weeks. Each year about 3500 participants are registered to one of about 200 seminars.
Concerning nyckelharpa teaching Academy Burg Fürsteneck currently offers the "International Days of the Nyckelharpa” each October, the on-going "European Nyckelharpa Training” and one workshop during the "Bordunale” at the begin of each year. Nyckelharpa players are also very welcome in many ensemble workshops throughout the year.

Homepage: www.burg-fuersteneck.de

Akademie Burg Fürsteneck

Am Schlossgarten 3
D-36132 Eiterfeld
Germany
Tel.: +49 6672 92020
Email: bildung(at)burg-fuersteneck(dot)de

Burg Fürsteneck

Burg Fürsteneck, Eiterfeld, Germany