The spilåpipa is a type of fipple flute traditional in Sweden. It is traditionally from the pastoral/transhumant

Transhumance

Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...

 cultures of that country, though more widespread in the modern era. It is originally most common in the transhumant areas, generally north of Svealand

Svealand

Svealand , Swealand or Sweden proper is the historical core region of Sweden. It is located in south central Sweden and is one of three lands of Sweden, bounded to the north by Norrland and to the south by Götaland. Deep forests, Tiveden, Tylöskog, Kolmården, separated Svealand from Götaland...

. During the 1900s, Älvdalen

Älvdalen

Älvdalen is a locality and the seat of Älvdalen Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 1,812 inhabitants in 2005....

 was a centre of conservation of spilåpipa music, and accordingly that area's name for the instrument has become the most widespread. A significant variation of the instrument is the härjedalspipa

Härjedalspipa

The härjedalspipa is a Swedish traditional fipple flute, similar to the spilåpipa with a slightly softer sound and only six finger holes. The model originated in Härjedalen, hence the name, and the most recognized tradition bearer of the instrument was Olof Jönsson , called Ol'Jansa, in Överberg,...

, but it has many variants. The instrument has experienced a revival in recent decades as modern folk musicians have become curious about traditional instruments.

Construction

The spilåpipa is a fipple flute, in which a narrow gap is blow into which directs the airstream onto a blade in the frame which produces the sound. The instrument has eight finger-holes on the top, but no thumb-hoes. It has a modal

Modal

Modal may refer to:* Modal , a textile made from spun Beechwood cellulose fiber* Modal analysis, the study of the dynamic properties of structures under vibrational excitation...

 tuning, which is not necessarily compatible with much of modern Western music. The player is easily able to affect the intonation.

Notable players

An important spilåpipare (player) was Sväs Anders Ersson (1872-1968) from Evertsberg

Evertsberg

Evertsberg is a locality situated in Älvdalen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 285 inhabitants in 2005....

 in Älvdalen, Dalarna

Dalarna

', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....

. In modern times, players include Anders Rosén (Malung), Pelle Jakobsson, Hars Åke Hermansson (Malung) and Ulrika Boden. Though not Swedish, the Dutch musician Els Doeke has received the prestigious bronze Zorn badge

Zorn Badge

The Zorn Badge is an award that is given to prominent folk musicians in Sweden. The prize is awarded by Svenska Folkdansringen, the Swedish national organization for traditional music, dance and handicraft.-History:...

 for playing the spilåpipa.

Further reading

• Ling Jan, Ahlbäck Gunnar. Folkmusikboken. 1980, Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91-518-1180-4.
• Folkmusikboken online