The psaltery is an ancient musical instrument. The earliest versions were made up of a simple wooden board with strings attached to pegs. This developed into a hollow box with metal strings and a sound hole. The strings were either plucked, struck or bowed. Handmade psalteries are sought after today by those who love the sound they produce.
Making these traditional instruments is a unique craft. It combines various skills such as science, art and working with wood. It requires woodworking skills such as good joinery and understanding different woods and glues. It also requires an interest in music and a knowledge of how different sounds are created.
In contrast with the plucked psaltery which is centuries old, the bowed psaltery appeared more recently. It has a distinctive triangular shape and is played with a bow. This is run up and down the sides to produce the different notes and only one string is played at a time. The notes produced by this instrument ring with an increased sustain which gives them a haunting quality.
A true craftsman must know exactly what wood to use. This affects not only the quality of the tones produced, but the strength and beauty of the final product. Some prefer to use a light wood for the top such as cedar or spruce. A strong, harder wood like a birch is used for the sides. The way the wood is cut is also important as wood loses and gains moisture and can crack or warp easily.
Each string on the instrument begins at a hitch pin, runs over the bridge and then goes round a tuning pin at the base. The tension of these strings is adjusted by tightening or loosening the tuning pins. The spacing of the hitch pins is an important factor in determining the sounds produced. Poor spacing can lead to bad sound quality and strings breaking frequently. Each string has to have the right vibrating length to sound its best and yet it should not be stretched to breaking point.
There is a sound hole on the top of each instrument. There are many different ways of decorating these holes, from hand carving them to fitting them with rosettes. The pattern in which the sound hole is cut and the way in which it is decorated will often be customized for a buyer.
An instrument should not only sound good but it should also be comfortable to play without any strain. This means that the length and the weight have to be carefully considered. The most common way to hold the psaltery is to nestle the base on the inside of the elbow or against the abdomen with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds it while the right hand is used to hold the bow and play.
Most handmade psalteries are sold together with instructions on care and a set of song sheets. One does not need musical training to enjoy this instrument. It can give pleasure to anyone who can play by ear and pick out a simple melody.
Making these traditional instruments is a unique craft. It combines various skills such as science, art and working with wood. It requires woodworking skills such as good joinery and understanding different woods and glues. It also requires an interest in music and a knowledge of how different sounds are created.
In contrast with the plucked psaltery which is centuries old, the bowed psaltery appeared more recently. It has a distinctive triangular shape and is played with a bow. This is run up and down the sides to produce the different notes and only one string is played at a time. The notes produced by this instrument ring with an increased sustain which gives them a haunting quality.
A true craftsman must know exactly what wood to use. This affects not only the quality of the tones produced, but the strength and beauty of the final product. Some prefer to use a light wood for the top such as cedar or spruce. A strong, harder wood like a birch is used for the sides. The way the wood is cut is also important as wood loses and gains moisture and can crack or warp easily.
Each string on the instrument begins at a hitch pin, runs over the bridge and then goes round a tuning pin at the base. The tension of these strings is adjusted by tightening or loosening the tuning pins. The spacing of the hitch pins is an important factor in determining the sounds produced. Poor spacing can lead to bad sound quality and strings breaking frequently. Each string has to have the right vibrating length to sound its best and yet it should not be stretched to breaking point.
There is a sound hole on the top of each instrument. There are many different ways of decorating these holes, from hand carving them to fitting them with rosettes. The pattern in which the sound hole is cut and the way in which it is decorated will often be customized for a buyer.
An instrument should not only sound good but it should also be comfortable to play without any strain. This means that the length and the weight have to be carefully considered. The most common way to hold the psaltery is to nestle the base on the inside of the elbow or against the abdomen with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds it while the right hand is used to hold the bow and play.
Most handmade psalteries are sold together with instructions on care and a set of song sheets. One does not need musical training to enjoy this instrument. It can give pleasure to anyone who can play by ear and pick out a simple melody.
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