What IS That Thing?
It’s beautiful . . . but what IS that thing?
© Meredith Mullins
The Nyckelharpa: Rooted in Swedish Cultural Traditions
On Olov Johansonn’s first journey to America, he remembers clearly that he stared into the eyes of wildness.
The Swedish musician was on his way to teach in a music camp in Mendocino— winding his way on a dusty, dark, dirt road in the California hills.
Suddenly the driver stopped the car. A mountain lion was commanding the center of the road.
Caught in the headlights, the animal stared curiously into the car for what seemed like, on this moonless night, a very long time.
“What IS that?” the mountain lion wondered.
© iStock/Ben Masters
Olov was certain that it was because the creature had never seen a nyckelharpist before. (In fact, surprisingly few people—or animals—have ever encountered a nyckelharpa.)
The...
