A psaltery was an ancient musical instrument that appeared in different forms throughout history. The earliest psalteries were simple wooden boards with strings attached to pegs. Later versions had a hollow box with a sound hole and metal strings. Strings were either plucked or struck. The ancient psaltery mentioned in the Bible was one of these. The bowed psaltery came later and appears to have been introduced in the early to mid 20th century.
The bowed psaltery is still being played today. It is as easy to play as using one finger to sound out a melody on a piano. Songbooks are readily available enabling one to play songs by number. This makes it a good instrument for someone who plays by ear and does not read music.
The main attraction of such an instrument is the sounds it can produce. The strings are closely placed so that when a string is played, the others pick up the vibrations. The sounds produced are described as haunting, ethereal and the notes are sustained, seeming to hang in the air. This sound seems out of proportion with its fairly small size. The instrument is fully chromatic with strings on the right side producing natural notes and those down the left providing the sharps and flats.
There have been continual improvements to these instruments over the years and those being constructed today are far superior to the earliest ones. They are built by craftsmen who have to combine a knowledge of woodwork, musical knowledge and artistic abilities. The instruments produced are not only durable and comfortable to play but are real works of art.
They have to know all about different types of wood as some types conduct sounds better than others and some are more durable than others. For the top of the instrument a lighter wood that can transmit vibrations to the body of the instrument is required. The back and sides need to be durable and for this reason heavier woods such as birch, walnut and maple are used.
A knowledge of music is important in the construction of this instrument. The placement of the hitch pins, the size of the sound hole and many other factors can affect the sounds produced. All the elements have to be put together very precisely for the best sounds to be produced.
The psaltery is played by running the bow in between the pins on the right and left sides of an instrument at the openings. Only one string is played at a time. The most common way to hold the instrument is with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds the instrument and the base is nestled against the abdomen or inside the elbow. The right hand holds the bow and does all the playing. There are various other positions so players have to find what is most comfortable for them.
A psaltery is usually sold together with a bow as well as other accessories like tuning wrenches. Music sheets, songbooks and playing instructions are often included as well. The cost of these instruments reflect the time, materials used and skills required to make them. However, there are few other instruments as easy to play that can produce such hauntingly beautiful sounds.
The bowed psaltery is still being played today. It is as easy to play as using one finger to sound out a melody on a piano. Songbooks are readily available enabling one to play songs by number. This makes it a good instrument for someone who plays by ear and does not read music.
The main attraction of such an instrument is the sounds it can produce. The strings are closely placed so that when a string is played, the others pick up the vibrations. The sounds produced are described as haunting, ethereal and the notes are sustained, seeming to hang in the air. This sound seems out of proportion with its fairly small size. The instrument is fully chromatic with strings on the right side producing natural notes and those down the left providing the sharps and flats.
There have been continual improvements to these instruments over the years and those being constructed today are far superior to the earliest ones. They are built by craftsmen who have to combine a knowledge of woodwork, musical knowledge and artistic abilities. The instruments produced are not only durable and comfortable to play but are real works of art.
They have to know all about different types of wood as some types conduct sounds better than others and some are more durable than others. For the top of the instrument a lighter wood that can transmit vibrations to the body of the instrument is required. The back and sides need to be durable and for this reason heavier woods such as birch, walnut and maple are used.
A knowledge of music is important in the construction of this instrument. The placement of the hitch pins, the size of the sound hole and many other factors can affect the sounds produced. All the elements have to be put together very precisely for the best sounds to be produced.
The psaltery is played by running the bow in between the pins on the right and left sides of an instrument at the openings. Only one string is played at a time. The most common way to hold the instrument is with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds the instrument and the base is nestled against the abdomen or inside the elbow. The right hand holds the bow and does all the playing. There are various other positions so players have to find what is most comfortable for them.
A psaltery is usually sold together with a bow as well as other accessories like tuning wrenches. Music sheets, songbooks and playing instructions are often included as well. The cost of these instruments reflect the time, materials used and skills required to make them. However, there are few other instruments as easy to play that can produce such hauntingly beautiful sounds.
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