Gustaf Knut Sten

Also went by the name Knute Stone  
  • Born:  1886 Österbybruk, Uppland, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1911. Settled in South Dakota: Brookfield, McCook County.
  • Death:   1974. Salem, McCook County, South Dakota. 
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Photo of nyckelharpa at the National Music Museum in Vermillion South Dakota.  (Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979) 
Authors note:   The nyckelharpa photo looks upside down.  A kontrabasharpa and silvebasharpa must be hung with "eyes" up.   It is consider bad luck to hang it any other way.  
Knut Gustaf Sten was born on January 9, 1886, in Österbybruk, Uppsala, Sweden, a community steeped in nyckelharpa tradition. Later in life Knut moved to the Roslagen parish of Harg, another vibrant nyckelharpa community.   It is quite possible he could have played with famed nyckelharpist Johan Edlund who also lived in Harg at that time. 

Seeking new horizons, Knut crossed the Atlantic in 1911 with only a few possessions including his cherished nyckelharpa. He settled in Brookfield, McCook County, South Dakota, embracing a life centered around farming.   In 1947, he retired and auctioned his farm but held on to his nyckelharpa.

In 1958, Knut generously donated his nyckelharpa to the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota where it is part of their vast collection.  His dedication to preserving Swedish musical traditions in a new land and his generosity in sharing his instrument left an enduring legacy for generations to come.  
Credit to Per-Ulf Allmo, Sweden, and to the National Music Museum for providing valuable information for this story.  
FUN FACTS: 
  • The nyckelharpa has a strong unbroken tradition of playing in Uppland, particularly in the area around Österbybruk and Harg, the communities where Knute lived.   
Music Links
​Here are nyckelharpa tunes from the areas of Österbybruk and Harg where Knute lived while in Sweden