The family tree of stringed musical instruments reaches far into the past. The orchestral instrumentation everyone recognizes today did not emerge fully fledged in the 18th century, but developed over time and across cultures. Their earliest ancestors were often plucked or hammered, and the adoption of the horsehair bow expanded those capabilities. The bowed psaltery is a relative newcomer, and produces its own unique, ethereal sound.
Hearing one reminds many people of an ancient harp, with a touch of the violin and dulcimer. Although the word is found in the Bible, the instrument being described was named by medieval scholars most familiar with the music of their own day. While the psaltery did have ancient origins in the Middle East, it is considered a part of the modern chordophone family.
This includes nearly any musical device that has strings amplified by a resonator. They have become part of modern culture as expressed through composition, and define the sound that modern orchestras produce. Many are electronically amplified today, and all possess chromatic capabilities. The psaltery-like instruments favored by Renaissance-era musicians did not, and their popularity waned.
The original instrument did not disappear, but simply changed. If instruments possessed DNA, it would be found in hammered dulcimers and their descendants, including harpsichords, and later on the piano. Although the addition of keyboards allowed composers greater freedom of expression, there is an appeal even today to the mystical, clean sounds it can produce.
The sizes, shapes and sounds available today are a recent development. There is no literal date given to the emergence of modern versions, but popular historical accounts place it in Germany little more than one hundred years ago. The most obvious improvement was the addition of a short bow, making it simpler to play. It may produce medieval musical sounds, but has an industrial-age design.
Today there are two common forms. They both resemble a long, narrow isosceles triangle, or a pointed science-fiction space cruiser. The soprano version boasts a two-octave range, with a bright sound that carries well. The alto model makes somewhat lower tones, and extends chromatically on the lower notes. Most are shorter than two feet, and at 2.4 pounds can be easily carried for personal performance.
Learning to play a violin or cello well can take years of training and practice, unlike a psaltery. Pegs and strings on the left side represent black piano keys, while the right side corresponds to the white. There are well-defined spaces for bowing, each one representing a particular note. For those with limited musical reading ability, knowledge of standard notation is not necessary.
The artists moves a short horsehair bow across the strings between the tuned pegs, and the correct note is sounded. The instrument is played from the side, not from a high point in the middle of the strings. There is no right or wrong way to hold it, and beginners will be delighted with the wonderful sounds they can make with a little practice. Today, there is a growing library of music available on line, both in written and live forms.
Hearing one reminds many people of an ancient harp, with a touch of the violin and dulcimer. Although the word is found in the Bible, the instrument being described was named by medieval scholars most familiar with the music of their own day. While the psaltery did have ancient origins in the Middle East, it is considered a part of the modern chordophone family.
This includes nearly any musical device that has strings amplified by a resonator. They have become part of modern culture as expressed through composition, and define the sound that modern orchestras produce. Many are electronically amplified today, and all possess chromatic capabilities. The psaltery-like instruments favored by Renaissance-era musicians did not, and their popularity waned.
The original instrument did not disappear, but simply changed. If instruments possessed DNA, it would be found in hammered dulcimers and their descendants, including harpsichords, and later on the piano. Although the addition of keyboards allowed composers greater freedom of expression, there is an appeal even today to the mystical, clean sounds it can produce.
The sizes, shapes and sounds available today are a recent development. There is no literal date given to the emergence of modern versions, but popular historical accounts place it in Germany little more than one hundred years ago. The most obvious improvement was the addition of a short bow, making it simpler to play. It may produce medieval musical sounds, but has an industrial-age design.
Today there are two common forms. They both resemble a long, narrow isosceles triangle, or a pointed science-fiction space cruiser. The soprano version boasts a two-octave range, with a bright sound that carries well. The alto model makes somewhat lower tones, and extends chromatically on the lower notes. Most are shorter than two feet, and at 2.4 pounds can be easily carried for personal performance.
Learning to play a violin or cello well can take years of training and practice, unlike a psaltery. Pegs and strings on the left side represent black piano keys, while the right side corresponds to the white. There are well-defined spaces for bowing, each one representing a particular note. For those with limited musical reading ability, knowledge of standard notation is not necessary.
The artists moves a short horsehair bow across the strings between the tuned pegs, and the correct note is sounded. The instrument is played from the side, not from a high point in the middle of the strings. There is no right or wrong way to hold it, and beginners will be delighted with the wonderful sounds they can make with a little practice. Today, there is a growing library of music available on line, both in written and live forms.
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