Spelmansglädjen

Eric Sahlström, from Göksby near Tobo, is the diamond that the great and recent revival of the nyckelharpa rests on. His deep traditions, skill and solidity as a player, as well as his generosity made him a Master and a role model for us all during the 1970-80:ies. He also made a couple of hundred nyckelharpas beginning long before the revival of this precious instrument.
In 1943 he was in the military service in the province of Värmland guarding our border to Norway. He was allowed three days off to get home and pick up his nyckelharpa. Then he began to make, or put together (He would never use the big word compose) the first two parts of the tune "Spelmansglädjen" but he was missing a natural ending.
In 1945 he served in the province of Skåne when in May the war (WWII) was ended and the soldiers could return home. Then he got so happy that he burst out in the third part of the tune.
At first the tune had a couple of different names but finally it was given the text current name “Spelmansglädjen”. Eric himself said that: “- To make a tune is fine, but to find a name for it, that is difficult”.
Spelmansglädjen, ending with -en, is in definite form: The Fiddlers Joy.
Eric sometimes called it just "Glädjen - The Joy.”
Moreover I consider it a kind of graduation tune. When you can play it well for dancing you have reached a high level of perfection.
Eric always slowed down the end of the third part, especially before starting part one again. I think this tradition is both artistic and worth preserving, but when played for dancing it should just be slightly hinted. He always ended the tune with part one.