Nhrysä
Nhrysä is a lesser-known traditional Finnish folk instrument that belongs to the category of bowed string instruments. Its name is derived from the Finnish word *nyrkkisäde*, meaning "finger ray," which refers to the instrument’s distinctive playing technique. The nhrysä is closely related to the Finnish *kantele* and other European zithers, though it is significantly less documented and studied compared to these more prominent instruments.
The nhrysä typically features a small, trapezoidal soundboard made from wood, often pine or spruce, with a
Historically, the nhrysä was likely used in rural Finnish communities for folk music, storytelling, and communal
Today, the nhrysä is considered a folk artifact rather than a commonly played instrument. Efforts by Finnish