Biography
Peter Puma Hedlund is considered Sweden’s leading traditional player of the modern chromatic nyckelharpa, having won the title World Champion twice, in 1992 and 2000. He earned the designation Riksspelman - Fiddler of the Realm - while still in his teens (1975). Peter and his nyckelharpa are a commanding presence whilst in the act of bringing forth music. Pure magic. His music is a powerful example of continuation - an unbroked thread linking past, present and future.
Peter is proud of the strong musical tradition and heritage that nurtured him as he grew up in the province of Uppland, a little north of Stockholm. He plays nyckelharpa for fun and states this repeatedly when asked questions about his style and interpretation. Peter’s technique is unsurpassed. His exceedingly precise playing is characterized by deep murmuring tones, liquid cascades of ornaments and flourishes and gives the uncanny perception that there is more than one of him playing at once.
When he has gone as far as technique can take him, Peter probes deeper to complement technique with powerful personal interpretation. His tones remind one of older sounds, and rightly so, as they are coming from a mind and soul that has studied and played with many of the bygone masters. Peter’s primary inspiration and teacher was the legendary Eric Sahlström.
Justly proud of his position in the realm of Swedish traditional music, Peter is gradually expanding the horizons of nyckelharpa expression. In his frequent role as an instructor, he takes the opportunity to influence and nurture the growth and development of the next generation of nyckelharpa players. He also "makes" tunes which are quickly gaining favor among today’s players. The modern chromatic nyckelharpa, neglected and almost forgotten in the 1940s and 50s, is blossoming as never before both in Sweden and elsewhere, especially the USA.
Peter’s musical career spans roughly 30 years. He has been actively performing, recording and teaching nonstop just about his entire adult life. Vägen (2002), his recent critically acclaimed solo album, was followed in 2003 by Another Way where he invited eight friends to join him in a masterful elaboration of his music. Also close to Peter’s heart has been a collaborative effort with Rita Leydon to develop and produce a three volume Nyckelharpa Workshop in dvd format--two languages (Swedish and English), two camera angles, as well as pdf text and sheet music files. All three volumes are now completed, an extraordinary effort certain to influence a whole new generation of nyckelharpa players around the world. Rita and Peter are also partners in RPM Music, a record label they launched in 2003.
Peter, 50, lives in Iste, Hälsingland (about a four hour drive north of Stockholm) with his wife, Karin, and their two sons Jonas and Mathias.
Instrumentation
Nyckelharpa
Discography
2006 - Resonans, Peter Puma Hedlund with Bo Nordenfelt, CD
2004 - Peter Hedlunds Nyckelharpskola, vol. 3, DVD
2003 - Another Way, Peter Puma Hedlund & Company, CD
2003 - Nisse Nordström & Peter Puma Hedlund, DVD
2002 - Build a Nyckelharpa with Sören Åhker, DVD
2002 - Vägen, solo recording, CD
2002 - Peter Hedlunds Nyckelharpskola, vol. 2, DVD
2001 - Peter Hedlunds Nyckelharpskola, vol. 1, DVD
2001 - Vinterljus, Britta Zetterström, various artists, CD
2000 - Nyckelharpa World Championship Competition, DVD
2000 - Framtidstro, various artists, CD
1999 - Nyckelharpa Concert, reissue of Puma, CD
1998 - Ge rum vid roddartrappan, various artists, CD
1992 - Puma, solo recording, CD
1990 - Fiolen min, Benny Andersson, various artists, CD, LP
1987 - Till Viksta-Lasses minne, various artists, LP
1982 - Får jag lov, with Norrtälje Elitkapell, LP
1981 - Med pukor och trumpeter, with Norrtälje Elitkapell, LP
1980 - Unga Spelmän från Uppland, various artists, LP
1978 - Oskapliga låtar, with Norrtälje Elitkapell, LP
1977 - Luffarschottis, with Norrtälje Elitkapell, LP
1974 - Harpan Min, led by Mats Kuoppola-Liljeholm, LP
Links
| http://www.rpmmusic.us |