What kind of man throws his nyckelharpa around? Olov Johansson's got a right to. 

In 1990 Olov became history's first world nyckelharpa champion. He has been playing nyckelharpa since he was fourteen and boasts as his teachers both Curt Tallroth, a National Master Musician and Eric Sahlström, the undisputed nyckelharpa master of our times. He has also toured India and Libya.

Olov's nyckelharpa is at the core of the Väsen (VEH-sen) sound, and he's also a member of theNyckelharpa Orchestra.

With his first solo album Storsvarten, Olov steps out on his own, with a little help from his Väsen friends Mikael Marin (viola) and Roger Tallroth (guitar), as well as organ and piano accompaniment.

Olov is also heard on the Kronos Quartet album Early Music.