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.
That group includes any musical device using a resonator in combination with strings. Modern chordophonic instrumentation is inseparable from composition, and is integral to all symphonic music. They are not limited to acoustic performances, and may be amplified like modern guitars. All have the ability to play chromatic scales. Older models lacked that important feature, and over time their popularity faded.
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 currently available sizes, shapes, and playing techniques are a fairly recent phenomenon. They are popularly believed to have originated in Germany around 120 years ago, but there are no actual recorded dates. Modern versions use a horsehair bow, which makes playing simpler, while adding extra dimensions to sound production. The music might sound ancient, but the instrumental design is not.
Twenty-first century versions are shaped a little like a science-fiction space cruiser, in the form of a long, narrow isosceles triangle. They are available in soprano and alto formats, and both are less than 24 inches long. The soprano version has a higher and brighter tonality, while the alto is somewhat darker, with a chromatic capability that extends the lower range. Both are portable and personal.
Playing a violin can be difficult because good technique usually takes years of practice, but not a psaltery. It possesses two distinct sides, with spaced string pegs representing the black keys of a piano on the left, with corresponding white key spaces on the right side. Written music does not necessarily have to use standard notation, but can simply designate bow spaces.
When the bow is placed between pegs and slowly drawn across tuned strings, the results can be lovely. Musicians can play from either side, not just from the highest point of the strings. There is not a specifically wrong way to hold one, and many players simply lay them on a table, or cradle them in their laps. There is a growing body of sheet music and psaltery sound-bites on line for those interested in honing their skills.
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.
That group includes any musical device using a resonator in combination with strings. Modern chordophonic instrumentation is inseparable from composition, and is integral to all symphonic music. They are not limited to acoustic performances, and may be amplified like modern guitars. All have the ability to play chromatic scales. Older models lacked that important feature, and over time their popularity faded.
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 currently available sizes, shapes, and playing techniques are a fairly recent phenomenon. They are popularly believed to have originated in Germany around 120 years ago, but there are no actual recorded dates. Modern versions use a horsehair bow, which makes playing simpler, while adding extra dimensions to sound production. The music might sound ancient, but the instrumental design is not.
Twenty-first century versions are shaped a little like a science-fiction space cruiser, in the form of a long, narrow isosceles triangle. They are available in soprano and alto formats, and both are less than 24 inches long. The soprano version has a higher and brighter tonality, while the alto is somewhat darker, with a chromatic capability that extends the lower range. Both are portable and personal.
Playing a violin can be difficult because good technique usually takes years of practice, but not a psaltery. It possesses two distinct sides, with spaced string pegs representing the black keys of a piano on the left, with corresponding white key spaces on the right side. Written music does not necessarily have to use standard notation, but can simply designate bow spaces.
When the bow is placed between pegs and slowly drawn across tuned strings, the results can be lovely. Musicians can play from either side, not just from the highest point of the strings. There is not a specifically wrong way to hold one, and many players simply lay them on a table, or cradle them in their laps. There is a growing body of sheet music and psaltery sound-bites on line for those interested in honing their skills.
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