Talharpa

Talharpa, tagelharpa ("tail-hair harp"), or stråkharpa ("bowed harp") in Swedish, and hiiu kannel or hiiurootsi kannel in Estonian, is a two- to four-stringed bowedlyre from northern Europe. It is questionable whether it was formerly common and widespread in Scandinavia. Historically, it has been played in the Estonian-Swedish areas and in Western Estonia, particularly among Estonian Swedes who came to Estonia around the 10th century from the Swedish part of Finland; they likely brought the instrument with them (later Swedish settlers in Estonia did not know nor use the talharpa). It is similar to the Finnish jouhikko and the Welsh crwth. Jouhikko, a close relative of talharpa, is still known in Finland.