Didier Francois - Nyckelharpa Workshop

Didier Francois - Nyckelharpa Concert

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Nyckelharpa Workshop Time: 5:00-7:00pm

Evening Concert: 7:30-9:00pm

Registration/Admission: Free or by donation to BCA

Didier François is Belgian musician specialized in nyckelharpa. Didier has taught nyckelharpa at the Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli, Italy and Akademie Burg Fürsteneck, (Germany) as a member of the European Nyckelharpa Training. He conducts seminars and workshops on relaxation technique based on the Belgian violin school of Arthur Grumiaux: relaxed and fluid movements for beauty of sound, freedom of expression and avoidance of tendinitis. He is also a member of the Cadence project supported by the European Commission  François is known for his unique technique and posture when playing the nyckelharpa. Holding the instrument in front of the chest, one is able to move both arms in a more natural and relaxed fashion. Using a violin shoulder rest to keep the nyckelharpa away from the body so it can swing freely also causes it to sound more open.  For many years François worked with the Nyckelharpa builder Joos Janssens (Dunières) for the further evolution of the instrument. Later with the nyckelharpa and bow builder Jean Claude Condi (Mirecourt), he helped with the creation of a study instrument for children. He himself plays nyckelharpas of both builders. Today Didier Francois plays on an nyckelharpa with gut strings specially built for renaissance-baroque music.