Birch trumpet

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Neverlur

The birch trumpet (Norwegian: neverlur, Swedish: näverlur, Latvian: taure, Lithuanian: ragas, daudytė[1][2][3]) is a type of natural trumpet made of spruce covered with birch bark, known in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus. Even cruder and less durable versions were made of plain birch bark. They are associated with the early European Chalet culture, where it was presumably used to intimidate predators, frighten supernatural enemies, and convene council meetings.

The neverlur, as a natural horn, thus has no fingerholes or valves. Normally, a player can play 10 tones from the natural scale on the instrument. In the modern era, the neverlur is primarily a cultural curiosity, used for the occasional fanfare.

Tolga kulturskole (culture school) in Norway regularly teaches playing the neverlur to all interested people living in the municipality.[4]

The oldest recovered näverlur in Sweden dates back to the 10th century, and resembles earlier bronze trumpets.

Contemporary manufacturers

Norway

  • Magnar Storbækken at the company Naturinstrumenter in Tolga[5]

Sweden

  • Rune Selén was Sweden's best known näverlur manufacturer. He manufactured more than 11000 näverlurar between 1959 and 2005 when he retired because of dust allergy. He died 28 October 2011.[6][7]
  • Lisa Byers Runberg in Alunda. She was taught by Rune Selén.[8][9] Her husband Per Runberg is a folk musician and riksspelman.[10][better source needed]
  • Jan Nordkvist at the company Lurmakaren in Tällberg[11]

Similar and related instruments

See also

References

  1. http://www.folkinstruments.lt/eng/puciamieji.htm#ragai
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  10. sv:Per Runberg
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External links

Template:Latvian folk musicno:Neverlur