Stein Villa at the Nordic Harp Meeting 2008 (foto: Floris van der Meijs)

The NHM will never be quite the same without Stein’s presence and his wonderful sense of humor. He has inspired so many people, brought forgotten instruments to the attention of countless children and adults, and it was such fun to make music with him.

Stein Villa played many instruments which have earlier been a part of Norwegian music tradition, e.g. the Norwegian folk harp (“bondeharpe”), the plucked lyre, the bowed lyre, the langeleik, the bagpipes and many more. He tried to bring these instruments into use again, since they represent sound possibilities which are not present in today’s folk music instruments. Stein was also a flute maker, specialised on bone flutes, and he liked to explore which possibilities are hidden inside every musical instrument.

Stein and his wife Marit have organised the marvellous NHM 2010 and NHM 2014 and NHM 2019 in Gjøvik.