Description
Gnaal – Luthier’s Tagelharpa or Jouhikko (Espen Winther Model)
The most iconic tagelharpa model designed by Norwegian musician and luthier Espen Winther (a member of the band Eldrim) is called “Gnaal.”
The Gnaal is not an exact replica of a historical archaeological find, but rather an adapted variant that combines features of the traditional tagelharpa and the Finnish jouhikko. Winther himself and his band describe the instrument as a “bastard relative” of various historical bowed string instruments.
Key Features of the Gnaal Model
- Project Objective: It was created out of the need to achieve a much lower pitch and a drone-style sound (continuous hum) for Eldrim’s music.
- Tuning: Its three-string configuration was designed for low registers and is typically tuned to D-A-D (Re – La – Re), with the first string corresponding to the D of an electric bass and the third string an octave higher.
- Traditional materials: It is constructed from fine woods and features strings made of genuine horsehair.
- Ergonomic aesthetics: The design stands out for its curved and fluid shapes (sometimes compared to the stylized hull of a boat), departing from the completely rectangular and massive structure of other traditional tagelharpas. In addition, it incorporates a nut parallel to the bridge, which facilitates a uniform finger placement between the strings.
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