"Gränzgängig" showcases the diversity and breadth of modern folk music

For the third time this year, the auditorium of the PROGR Cultural Center in Bern will host “Gränzgängig.” This time, the spotlight is on Swedish musician Emilia Amper and her nyckelharpa. She is the world champion on this string instrument—which may seem rather exotic to us—and the performance promises to be both dynamic and groovy. “Viertaktmotor” will present what they’ve rehearsed and developed together over the course of a single day.

Nyckelharpa? Never heard of it? Yet this instrument has been on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2023. Literally translated from Swedish, it means “key harp”; here, the string instrument is called the “key fiddle.” Unlike the hurdy-gurdy, the four strings of the nyckelharpa are played with a short bow, and twelve resonance strings are also set into vibration. The pitch can be adjusted using keys. “Viertaktmotor” incorporates this medieval instrument into their “new Swiss folk music” and draws inspiration from the virtuosity of Emilia Amper.

Emilia Amper: World Champion and Two-Time Grammy Nominee

Emilia Amper and “Viertaktmotor” share a common trait: they know virtually no limits. The Swedish nyckelharpa player, singer, and composer won the Nyckelharpa World Championships, has performed with Nordic folk ensembles as well as with classical Persian musicians, jazz and rock musicians, has been nominated twice for the American Grammy Awards, and regularly wins prizes at the Norwegian and Swedish Folk and World Music Awards. The legendary Jon Lord of Deep Purple even wrote a song for her called “Beyond the Notes.”

Emilia Amper creates playful, lively, and rhythmically innovative soundscapes on her nyckelharpa, accompanied by her clear, enchanting voice. Dynamism, elegance, and groove define her sound, with a penchant for polkas, virtuosity, and danceable rhythms. She is a star of the Nordic folk music scene, composes for dance and theater performances, performs as a soloist with classical orchestras, and is now teaming up with “Viertaktmotor” to explore their own somewhat unconventional take on new Swiss folk music.

Viertaktmotor: On the Way to the Alte Oper Frankfurt

Following pagan folk musician Adaya and Swiss Ländler clarinetist Dani Häusler, Emilia Amper is the third guest in the “Gränzgängig” series. Starting at 12:12 p.m., you can listen in on the rehearsals in the PROGR auditorium and witness how “folk music is breaking new ground.” Following the cultural festival in Köniz, this is an important stop along the way for the four instrumentalists of “Viertaktmotor,” with the goal of recording a new album next year. But first, Nayan Stalder (hammered dulcimer), Kaspar Eggimann (accordion), Raphael Heggendorn (cello), and Laurin Moor will perform at the Fratopia Festival in Frankfurt am Main on September 23. This four-day festival, held in all the halls and rooms of the Alte Oper, will be the quartet’s second trip to Germany this year, following the JazzArtFestival in Schwäbisch Hall. But for now, the focus is on the playful, groovy sounds of Emilia Amper and her unique nyckelharpa.

Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.