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Plønk is the new international duo of Christian Mohr Levisen (Denmark) and Björn Kaidel (Germany). Together, they fuse their passion for folk music, captivating melodies and intimate duo playing to breathe new life into the Waldzither — a traditional 9-stringed plucked instrument from Germany.
The Waldzither, once widely spread in Germany, has nearly faded into obscurity over the last century. Christian and Björn aim to shine a new light on this instrument, revealing its rich, overtone-filled and resonant sound to modern audiences.
Rooted in the folk traditions of Denmark and Germany, their music is also influenced by contemporary folk. Plønk weaves together handpicked tunes from 18th-century manuscripts with fresh new compositions, creating a unique soundscape enriched by the Waldzither's characteristic tone. This innovative blend promises to captivate both dancers and listeners alike.
Christian and Björn are celebrated musicians in the Danish and German folk scenes, renowned for their skills of various string instruments. Having toured Europe extensively with different bands and projects, they now join forces in Plønk, driven by a border-crossing friendship and a shared vision to push the boundaries of the Waldzither.
They perform on beautifully restored Waldzithers, originally crafted around 1920 by the C.H. Böhm company in Hamburg, adding a piece of history to their fresh, vibrant sound.
Christian Mohr Levisen
Christian grew up in the North West of Denmark and already developed a fascination for folk music in his childhood. He has been playing hurdy gurdy since he was only 13 years old and has over time expanded his instrumentarium considerably: Bagpipes, cittern, tagelharpa, Cretan lyra, harmonium and of course the Waldzither!
Having long been interested in the German Waldzither and its history going from being extremely popular to almost forgotten, Christian finally acquired one, which he restored and restrung. Instantly falling in love with the sound of the instrument, he now tries to bring it to a wider audience.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and plays, amongst others, in Auroq, Almune, Ingrid & Tillfälligheten and Tone of Voice Orchestra.
Björn Kaidel
Björn comes from South Germany and has a lifelong passion for plucked instruments, picking up the guitar when he was still in elementary school. While exploring folk music of different cultures, he always wondered why there was seemingly no active folk tradition in his home country.
Thankfully, in recent years many German folk music manuscripts have been rediscovered and Björn is among the most active musicians working with these tunes. After studying folk instruments like the Swedish nyckelharpa, Irish bouzouki and Nordic cittern, he is now excited to delve deep into the German waldzither.
With his projects Akleja and Fior he has toured and played concerts throughout Europe. He is also a sought-after teacher for folk music workshops both in Germany and abroad.