Polkett från Lövstabruk
#347 – This polkett is from the iron foundry of Lövstabruk, in northeast Uppland. It was perhaps the grandest of the foundries of the 1600’s and 1700’s, and had a large population of ethnic Walloons. The Walloons, brought in from Belgium to work the foundries, were also associated with the nyckelharpa as a folk instrument.
To the right is a photo of the Manor House in Lövstabruk.
The tune is best known as part of the repertoire of Ceylon Wallin, a nyckelharpa player who died in 1987. He was a genuine original, playing tunes that he got from his father, Albin Wallin. The tunes are recognizable by the extra beat added to the final measure. Here is a recording of Ceylon playing the tune. Note that the picture with the recording is of the nyckelharpa stamp the Swedish Post Office put out with Ceylon’s picture on it. And here is a recording of Gert Ohlsson, another famous fiddler and nyckelharpa player from Värmland, playing the same tune.