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 Kleines Konzert Konstanz (DE)
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 grew up in Coburg (GER) and whose musical journey began with self-taught guitar playing at the age of 12.
In 2018, he finally found his way to the hurdy-gurdy, taking regular lessons and master classes with internationally renowned hurdy-gurdy virtuosos, such as Tobie Miller (CH), Simon Wascher (AUS), Till Uhlmann (GER) and Johannes Geworkian Hellman (SE).
In 2022 Ron Höllein achieved the first prize of the „Concours soliste de la Vielle à Roue“ at the festival „Le son continu“ in Chateau d’Ars (FR).
Since 2022 he has been playing together with Francesco Giusta (IT) in the baroque hurdy-gurdy duo „Les Vielleux de la Reine“, which has set itself the task of breathing new life into the duo repertoire of the 18th century composed for the instrument. Les Vielleux de la Reine regularly play concerts in Germany, Austria, France and Italy.
He is playing on instruments made by Wolfgang Weichselbaumer.
