Of the musical instruments played nowadays, psalteries have one of the longest histories. Dating back to around 2000BC, they are mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. In all their forms they have an established reputation in music internationally.
The psaltery was invented in ancient Greece, and is similar to a harp or zither. It spread first to the Middle East and then into the rest of Europe and by medieval times it was prevalent throughout Europe. Today it is still played in different parts of the world and it is possible to purchase hand-crafted instruments.
Like the guitar or lute, the psaltery has a hollow body with strings attached to one side of it. The has the shape of an isosceles triangle. The strings are attached along the body's edges and also to tuning pins at one end. The pins can be turned to produce the desired pitch (note) in each string. The vibrating strings produce the sound, which is then amplified by the cavity of the body. Psaltery design has not been stable over time, but the basic principle has remained the same.
There are different kinds of psaltery. Some are plucked, either by hand or with a pick (plectrum), while others are struck. The most recent type is played with a bow, like a violin. The oldest type is the plucked one, which is much like the playing style of a harp. The plucked one is several thousand years old.
The psaltery appears often in recorded history. It is to be found at its place of origin in ancient Greek art, and as mentioned previously also in the Bible, in the following quotation: '... The pleasant harp with the psaltery.' (Psalms 81:2, as it appears in the King James version. Whether or not the word psaltery as used in this quotation actually refers to the ancient instrument is open to debate, because the original text is not entirely understood.)
There is a theory that psalteries were brought to Europe from the Middle East by the crusaders. Be that as it may, the instrument was an acceptable pastime for ladies of the royal court, and it can be seen in artwork dating from the medieval period in Europe. In time, it began to be associated with the development of other instruments such as the harpsichord and the dulcimer.
The effect of the psaltery on European music should not be underestimated. It is said to have had an influence in the development of the modern piano, and this makes sense given that both instruments rely on percussive striking of strings to produce sound. Not everyone agrees with this outlook, however. The psaltery is also thought to have been the inspiration for modern notated sheet music.
There is something magical about the sound of an ancient instrument. Listening to the music of psalteries, one is transported back to ancient times. In a time of advanced technology and electronic music, it is sometimes good to return to where it all started, and then to marvel at the ingenuity of humankind.
The psaltery was invented in ancient Greece, and is similar to a harp or zither. It spread first to the Middle East and then into the rest of Europe and by medieval times it was prevalent throughout Europe. Today it is still played in different parts of the world and it is possible to purchase hand-crafted instruments.
Like the guitar or lute, the psaltery has a hollow body with strings attached to one side of it. The has the shape of an isosceles triangle. The strings are attached along the body's edges and also to tuning pins at one end. The pins can be turned to produce the desired pitch (note) in each string. The vibrating strings produce the sound, which is then amplified by the cavity of the body. Psaltery design has not been stable over time, but the basic principle has remained the same.
There are different kinds of psaltery. Some are plucked, either by hand or with a pick (plectrum), while others are struck. The most recent type is played with a bow, like a violin. The oldest type is the plucked one, which is much like the playing style of a harp. The plucked one is several thousand years old.
The psaltery appears often in recorded history. It is to be found at its place of origin in ancient Greek art, and as mentioned previously also in the Bible, in the following quotation: '... The pleasant harp with the psaltery.' (Psalms 81:2, as it appears in the King James version. Whether or not the word psaltery as used in this quotation actually refers to the ancient instrument is open to debate, because the original text is not entirely understood.)
There is a theory that psalteries were brought to Europe from the Middle East by the crusaders. Be that as it may, the instrument was an acceptable pastime for ladies of the royal court, and it can be seen in artwork dating from the medieval period in Europe. In time, it began to be associated with the development of other instruments such as the harpsichord and the dulcimer.
The effect of the psaltery on European music should not be underestimated. It is said to have had an influence in the development of the modern piano, and this makes sense given that both instruments rely on percussive striking of strings to produce sound. Not everyone agrees with this outlook, however. The psaltery is also thought to have been the inspiration for modern notated sheet music.
There is something magical about the sound of an ancient instrument. Listening to the music of psalteries, one is transported back to ancient times. In a time of advanced technology and electronic music, it is sometimes good to return to where it all started, and then to marvel at the ingenuity of humankind.
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