what kind of instrument is a psaltery

Full Answer

What period and classification is psaltery?

Medieval and Renaissance psalteries From the 12th through the 15th centuries, psalteries are widely seen in manuscripts, paintings and sculpture throughout Europe. They vary widely in shape and the number of strings (which are often, like lutes, in courses of two or more strings).

Is psaltery a Chordophone?

The psaltery is a box zither chordophone of Medieval Europe. It appears in numerous Medieval bas-reliefs and illuminations and is mentioned in a number of texts, suggesting that it was a widespread and common instrument during that period.

Is the psaltery a renaissance instrument?

The psaltery was widely used until about 1500, but could not cope well with the chromaticism of the Renaissance, so was used less as time passed. It is thought that the psaltery evolved into the harpsichord, zither, and other instruments.

What does the instrument psaltery look like?

Psalteries are shown in a variety of shapes including the so-called “double-wing” or “pig's head,” a sort of in-curving trapezoid, and the Arabic qanun, also a trapezoid or half-trapezoid that can look like a miniature grand piano. Some psalteries also simple trapezoids.

What is aerophone instrument?

Aerophones are instruments that create noise by pushing vibrating columns of air through them. Under the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, aerophones are broken down into free aerophones and non-free aerophones.

What are idiophone instruments?

Idiophones are instruments that create sound through vibrating themselves. They differ from chordophones and membranophones because the vibrating is not the result of strings or membranes. Under the Hornbostel-Sachs classifcation system, idiophones are further divided into struck idiophones and plucked idiophones.

What is a meaning of Chordophone?

Definition of chordophone : any of a class of musical instruments (such as a guitar or piano) whose sound is generated by plucking, bowing, or striking stretched strings : stringed instrument — compare aerophone, electrophone, idiophone, lamellophone, membranophone.

How do you play psaltery?

7:278:20Bowed Psaltery First Lesson Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you're right-handed you're going to hold the psaltery. In your left hand bow with your right allMoreIf you're right-handed you're going to hold the psaltery. In your left hand bow with your right all the notes on this side of the common notes over here is easier sharps and flats.

How do you play psaltery instruments?

1:355:59An Introduction to the Bowed Psaltery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're playing with a down bow. And an up bow to find individual notes you're moving in between theMoreYou're playing with a down bow. And an up bow to find individual notes you're moving in between the hitch pin.

What is the difference between a psaltery and dulcimer?

The difference between the two is how they are played. The strings of the psaltery are plucked with the fingers, while dulcimer strings are struck with small mallets or hammers. Technically, both instruments are from the same family of instruments called board-zithers.

What is psaltery in the Bible?

The word psaltery itself derives from the Greek psalterion/psalterium. It is an instrument that's played using the fingers rather than using a plectrum or a quill. Webster's Dictionary defines psaltery as “An instrument of music used by the Hebrews, the form of which is not now known.

How do you pronounce psaltery in the Bible?

0:051:00How To Say Psaltery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSoltería soltería soltería soltería soltería soltería.MoreSoltería soltería soltería soltería soltería soltería.

Which is an example of a chordophone?

Examples of chordophones are violins, violas, cellos, double bass, harp, guitar, ukulele. You must strum, pluck, or use a bow on these instruments to make sound.

What instruments are chordophones?

chordophone, any of a class of musical instruments in which a stretched, vibrating string produces the initial sound. The five basic types are bows, harps, lutes, lyres, and zithers.

What are the examples of membranophone?

Membranophones are instruments that make sound from the vibrations of stretched skins or membranes. Drums, tambourines, and some gongs are common examples of membranophones.

What is the example of aerophone?

Examples include the trumpet, cornet, horn, trombone and the tuba.

The Sound and Tonal Characteristics of A Bowed Psaltery

What’s so unique about the bowed psaltery is its sound! How can I explain it? Some have called it haunting; while I have also heard it described as...

Anatomy of A Bowed Psaltery

In order to help you understand all of the parts and pieces of the bowed psaltery, I have created a little visual aid, an anatomy chart, for refere...

Playing The Bowed Psaltery

Maybe you have been looking at pictures of the bowed psaltery, with its many strings, and you are wondering exactly how you play this peculiar inst...

Tuning The Bowed Psaltery

Okay, perhaps there is one last thing that you are wondering: how is a bowed psaltery tuned? Good question.In the picture above, you will notice a...

What instruments are psaltery?

It also gave rise to the harpsichord, which is a large psaltery with a keyboard mechanism for plucking the strings. Psalteries still played in European folk music include the Finnish kantele and its Baltic relatives, among them the Estonian kannel, which is bowed rather than plucked, and the Russian gusli.

What family is a psaltery in?

Psalteries are members of the zither family, instruments having strings extended across an armless, neckless frame or holder; non-Western psalteries are thus sometimes referred to as zithers. The dulcimer is a psaltery having strings that are struck with hammers rather than plucked.

What is a harpsichord?

harpsichord, keyboard musical instrument in which strings are set in vibration by plucking. It was one of the most important keyboard instruments in European music from the 16th through the first half of the 18th century.…

What are some instruments similar to psalteries?

The hammered dulcimer and related instruments such as the santur, cimbalom, yangqin, and khim, appear very similar to psalteries and it is often hard to tell which one historical images represent. They differ in that the player strikes the strings with small hammers rather than plucking them.

What is a psaltery?

Psaltery. A woman playing a triangular harp, which was called by Greeks a psalterion. Ancient Greek red-figured pelike from Anzi, Apulia, circa 320–310 BCE. A psaltery ( Greek: ψαλτήρι) (or sawtry [archaic]) is a stringed instrument of the zither family.

When was the Psaltery played?

Psaltery player from the Gorleston Psalter, c. 1310–1326. From the 12th through the 15th centuries, psalteries are widely seen in manuscripts, paintings and sculpture throughout Europe. They vary widely in shape and the number of strings (which are often, like lutes, in courses of two or more strings).

Where did the word "psaltery" come from?

The word psaltery derives from the Ancient Greek ψαλτήριον ( psaltḗrion ), "stringed instrument, psaltery, harp" and that from the verb ψάλλω ( psállō ), "to touch sharply, to pluck, pull, twitch" and in the case of the strings of musical instruments, "to play a stringed instrument with the fingers, and not with the plectrum .".

Where did the psaltery originate?

Ancient Greek red-figured pelike from Anzi, Apulia, circa 320–310 BCE. Picture of an unusual type of psaltery, found in Central Europe (Kingdom of Bohemia, 14th century) A psaltery ( Greek: ψαλτήρι) (or sawtry [archaic]) is a stringed instrument of the zither family.

What were medieval instruments made of?

The strings of the medieval instrument were usually made of metal, unlike the finger plucked harp made with gut strings. There are many illustrations that show the instrument being played with a plectrum. While the harp had single strips, a psaltery could have multiple strings for one tone. It had a soundboard under the strings. The psaltery has been compared to the harpsichord and dulcimer, though the latter is not plucked but struck with hammers.

What is a psaltery?

The psaltery ( psalterion, saltere, sauterie, Psalterium, Psalter, salterio) is an ancient intstrument seen in many forms. Early versions were simply a wooden board with gut strings stretched between pegs. The strings were plucked with fingers or by plectra (the name might have derived from the Greek psallein meaning plucked with fingers). Later instruments included the hollow box or soundboard with soundholes and metal strings. The player performed with the instrument on the lap or on a table, or in front of the chest held with a strap around his neck if movement was needed.

When was the psaltery used?

It was referred to frequently in lists of musicians and instruments and in the art of the time. The psaltery was widely used until about 1500, but could not cope well with the chromaticism of the Renaissance, so was used less as time passed.

When was the Psalter written?

The name of psaltery entered Christian literature in the 3rd century B.C. translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint where, in the Psalms, nebel was translated psalterion. Thus, Nebuchadnezzar's idolatrous ensemble included the Aramic psantria. Notice, also, that the book of Psalms has also become known as the Psalter (or psalterium ), from the hymns sung with this harp.

What is the book of Psalms called?

Notice, also, that the book of Psalms has also become known as the Psalter (or psalterium ), from the hymns sung with this harp. Southern Europe, influenced by Moorish Spain, prefered the trapezoidal psaltry with three or four strings to a note.

What is a psaltery?

Psalteries are shown in a variety of shapes including the so-called “double-wing” or “pig’s head,” a sort of in-curving trapezoid, and the Arabic qanun, also a trapezoid or half-trapezoid that can look like a miniature grand piano. Some psalteries also simple trapezoids.

Who wrote the psaltery?

Psaltery. Angel musician from the Reliquary of St Ursula by Hans Memling (ca.1489). Bruges, St John’s Hospital Museum.

What is the name of the instrument that is strung with wire?

Psaltery . Of the wire strung instruments, besides the Irish harp and possibly the citole, there is only the psaltery and its relative, the dulcimer. The term “psaltery” dates back to Greek times but the origin of the zither-type instrument familiar to us from countless medieval miniature paintings is obscure.

What was the first instrument to survive?

The earliest harpsichord-like instrument to survive is an upright one — a clavicytherium — which probably fell out of favor because it required springs to work the jacks, unlike the standard horizontal harpsichords which used gravity to reposition the jacks once they had plucked the strings.

When was the harpsichord invented?

In the 15th century, we find the first evidence for a kind of “mechanized psaltery” — the harpsichord. The Burgundian physician, Henri Arnaut, gave plans for such an instrument (among others) in a treatise written ca. 1440. The earliest harpsichord-like instrument to survive is an upright one — a clavicytherium — which probably fell out of favor because it required springs to work the jacks, unlike the standard horizontal harpsichords which used gravity to reposition the jacks once they had plucked the strings. It’s possible to see these early harpsichord forms as descendants of the qanun psaltery.

What is a Psaltery?

One can argue that the modern day violin, guitar and other stringed instruments owe their existence to the psaltery. In fact, early pictorial depictions of the psaltery have a striking resemblance to what we see today in the design of violins.

What is the quality of a psaltery?

Another factor in the quality of a psaltery is how it’s strung and how easily it can be tuned. The more finicky the design, the harder it is to learn and the more care it will need than normal instruments. Take note though that this last factor is not as large as other factors.

How much does a 22 string psaltery weigh?

Right off the bat, it looks very appealing. The black walnut finish gives the instrument an air of elegance with a soft reverence. It weighs about three pounds, which may make it the type of psaltery that is not readily hefted (for those who prefer that play style) but laid on a flat surface and played with grace.

Why is the psaltery important?

These sounds can be parts of songs that bring something from the past into modern times. In other words, the psaltery can make old things new again. The motivations for learning the psaltery are as vast as its repertoire of sounds. However, one thing they all have in common is that the psaltery is a very important old member of a prominent family of instruments. Without an appreciation for instruments like the psaltery, the string family and music itself would not be the same. Indeed, you could even argue that music overall would be less vibrant.

Why is the psaltery chosen?

Ultimately, the psaltery will be chosen for its ease of use. The instrument is portable, flexible and user friendly.

Why is it important to be friendly to different positions in a psaltery?

Being friendly to different playing positions is important to enabling as many playstyles as possible . Another factor in the quality of a psaltery is how it’s strung and how easily it can be tuned.

What wood is used for psaltery?

This time you have the option of choosing between three types of wood for the body: cherry, walnut or sipo wood. This psaltery is lighter than many others, boasting a weight of approximately 2 ½ pounds. This light nature allows it to be hefted with ease and increases the variety in play style.

What does "psaltery" mean in music?

The verb is used to mean the bowstring being twanged. Webster’s Dictionary defines psaltery as “An instrument of music used by the Hebrews, the form of which is not now known. That which is now used is a flat instrument in form of a trapezium or triangle truncated at the top, strung with thirteen chords of wire, mounted on two bridges at the sides, ...

What is the psaltery in the Bible?

What is a Psaltery in the Bible? The psaltery is mentioned many times in the Bible. This stringed instrument is translated from the Hebrew nebel or nabel. Occasionally, this has been translated as viol or lute but all three instruments are distinctive.

How many strings does a viol have?

The viol is a guitar with six strings. The lute is larger and has a convex back and has a superior tone.

Does the Bible say strings are psaltery?

The King James Bible is one of the versions that uses the word ‘psaltery’ more than others but there are occurrences where the King James Bible translates the word as ‘stringed instrument’ while others use psaltery.

Did the Psalteries exist in the Bible?

Final words. It’s impossible to say what the Bible is referring to with its use of the word psalteries and other similar words but what is clear is that psalteries did exist in biblical times in some form or other. To learn more about modern day psalteries, check out our review on the best psalteries.

What is included in a Psaltery?

Included with your psaltery are a 17" long maple horsehair bow, a tuning wrench, rosin, extra strings, and an Owner's Manual. There are markers embedded in the instrument for the Cs and for the Gs to help you find your way.

How to play the psaltery?

The psaltery is played by drawing the bow along the right side of the instrument for the 'white keys of the piano' bowing between the posts. The sharps and flats are on the left side of the instrument. You would tilt the bow to play those accidentals; 'the black keys'.

What is the white key on a psaltery?

In a left handed instrument the white keys of the psaltery are on the left side of the instrument, black keys on the right. ​. My instruments are constructed entirely of solid wood; no plywood. The soundboards of choice are thin quarter-sawn tone woods such as Spruce, Redwood or Cedar.

What is the largest bowed psaltery?

The Baritone is my largest Bowed Psaltery with a range of 3 octaves (37 strings) going from C6-C3. I now offer this psaltery with either 1" or 7/8" between the pins. The dimensions are 11" X 30 1/2" X 3 1/4"for the 1"spacing and 10" X 28" for the 7/8". Weight for either is about 4-5 lbs. Both instruments are more of a challenge to play given their size and weight. It must be played leaning more toward you in order to reach the lowest notes. I'm currently recommending the Baritone with 7/8" spacing as this results in a smaller psaltery with no sacrifice of tone. If you want those lower tones, the Baritone is the one to get but be aware of its constraints. Most players choose my Alto. I only build Baritones to order.

How many strings does an alto have?

The Alto has the same range as the Soprano plus an additional 1/2 octave so you have 2 1/2 octaves going down to middle C (32 strings). The Alto's larger body size is approximately 26" x 9 1/2" x 2 3/4" with pins and is 3 to 3/12 lbs depending on the wood.

What woods are used in Alto Psalteries?

I sometimes have Alto Psalteries with different woods like Curly or Birdseye Maple or exotic woods on the sides (see photos below). These instruments would have Cherry, Mahogany or Walnut backs and usually Redwood or Cedar soundboards. Check current stock to see what I have in this category that is immediately available.

What is the size of a soprano?

The Soprano has a slightly brighter sound than the Alto. The size of the Soprano is 22" x 81/2" x 2 1/2" with pins and weighs 2 1/2 lbs. If you are purchasing the instrument for a young child, I recommend the Soprano because of its smaller size and lightness.

Overview

Etymology

The psaltery of Ancient Greece (epigonion) was a harp-like stringed instrument. The word psaltery derives from the Ancient Greek ψαλτήριον (psaltḗrion), "stringed instrument, psaltery, harp" and that from the verb ψάλλω (psállō), "to touch sharply, to pluck, pull, twitch" and in the case of the strings of musical instruments, "to play a stringed instrument with the fingers, and not with the plectrum." The psaltery was originally made from wood, and relied on natural acoustics for soun…

Characteristics

Medieval and Renaissance psalteries

Modern psaltery

Gallery

See also

External links