Polska efter Johan Christian Tydell

This Polska efter Johan Christian Tydell is one of many tunes played today that are attributed to this fine fiddler who lived from 1718 to 1795.

Most of his tunes were preserved by fiddler and music archivist Carl Erik Berndt. Berndt played both regular fiddle and the wooden shoe fiddle, a traditional instrument played in the province of Skåne.

This unusual instrument is traditionally made from an actual wooden shoe that has been worn out and is then converted to play music. Skåne is an agricultural region that has little forest area compared with the rest of Sweden.

To the left is a photograph of wooden shoe fiddle (träskofiol) being played by a fiddler from Skåne.

Here is a video of me playing the Polska efter Johan Christian Tydell.