About

Gustav Näsman Olai

Musician and musicologist
Gustav with gittern
Photo: Johan Nylin

I am a musician and musicologist, focusing on conveying the sound and history of medieval music.

My musical journey began in Swedish traditional music, but over the years has deepened into medieval music and its instruments. I have a master's degree in musicology from Uppsala University and today I work primarily with string instruments such as the gittern and citole, but also with bagpipes, shawms and singing.

 

My goal is to bring the world of medieval music to life through both research and practical music making – and to share that knowledge with others.

 

As a freelance musician and educator, I am active both in Sweden and internationally, leading courses, concerts and workshops. In addition to my more regular music projects, I have contributed music and dance to SVT's (Swedish public service) Historien om Sverige, played with Portuguese Na Rota do Peregrino  and am behind many of the sounds for Teenage Engineering's flagship EP-1320 medieval.

I am also involved in The Swedish Early Music Society and a member of the editorial board of the journal Tidig Musik.