Chiavi d’Amore is an Early Music Duo consisting of Angela Ambrosini (Nyckelharpa) and Ron Höllein (Hurdy Gurdy).
This unique combination of instruments can be seen as early as 1619 in Michael Praetorius‘ Syntagma Musicum, which depicts both instruments together on one single page.
This is not a coincidence: both the Nyckelharpa and the Hurdy Gurdy are stringed instruments in which the strings are picked up by keys. In addition, both instruments have resonance strings, which give them their characteristic ethereal sound.
The main difference between the two instruments lies in the sound production; on the nyckelharpa the strings are played by drawing a bow across the strings, whereas on the hurdy-gurdy this is done with a colophonized wheel. In addition to that, the drone strings on the hurdy-gurdy play a continuous accompaniment, which – together with the resonating strings – give the music a unique richness and complexity.
Concerts
2024
May / 12 SeZe Konstanz (DE)
May / 26 Altes Rat- und Schulhaus Trossingen (DE)
Jun / 8 Nyckelharpawochenende Balingen (DE)
Jul / 2 Eisfelder Sommerkonzerte (DE)
2025
Mar / 15 – Das Kleine Konzert, Konstanz (DE)
May / 22 – Angerhalle Möhringen (DE)
Jun / 5 – Finissage im Rathaus-Foyer Tuttlingen (DE)
Aug / 20 – Theatrum Kuks (CZ)
Picture: Björn Kaidel, Nyckelharpawochenende Balingen
Angela Ambrosini
Angela Ambrosini is playing nyckelharpa since 2010.
She participated 2013 as musician & composer in the European project ENCORE (European Nyckelharpa Cooperation – ORchestral Experience). In October 2013 she had her first concert tour in France with the ensemble of Lucilla Galeazzi, in December 2013 she performed in Germany with the international Early Music ensemble Oni Wytars and in January 2014 her first duo concert in Italy together with Marco Ambrosini, in December 2015 with the Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis, in 2018 with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, with the Czech Tiburtina Ensemble and with the Ensemble „Translucent Borders“, a project of the New York University.
Angela is Certified Graduate of the European Nyckelharpa Training and also participated successful at the Early Music Master Classes 2014 and 2015 in Bertinoro (Italy), organized in cooperation with Fondazione Alma Mater, Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna and the Musikhochschule Trossingen Music University.
Angela plays on instruments made by Annette Osann & Olle Plahn and bows made by Carolin Fauer.
Ron Höllein
Ron Höllein is a German hurdy-gurdy player who has dedicated himself to the historical performance practice of his instrument.
As a student of globally renowned musicians such as Tobie Miller (CH), Marieke Spaans (NL) or Rolf Lislevand (NO), Ron was able to perfect his musical and technical skills.
In addition to solo concerts throughout Europe, he has been playing with Francesco Giusta (IT) in the baroque hurdy-gurdy duo “Les Vielleux de la Reine” since 2022 and with the Nyckelharpa player Angela Ambrosini (GER) in the duo “Chiavi d’Amore” since 2023.
He also won first prize in the “Concours soliste de la Vielle à Roue” at the “Le Son Continu” festival in Château d’Ars, France, in 2022 and was sponsored by the Klaus Thimm Music Fund in 2023.
In addition to his artistic activities, Ron is a founding member of the Hurdy Gurdy Center, an organization whose aim is to promote the hurdy-gurdy and its image.
Since 2023, Ron Höllein has been studying early music at the University of Music in Trossingen.
Ron plays on instruments by Wolfgang Weichselbaumer.
