The Bowed Psaltery
Many years ago, a friend of mine who was a fiddler, borrowed an instrument called a bowed psaltery from another musician, and fell in love with it. However, it had to go back, so I resolved to make one for her. After some research and meticulously measuring the borrowed instrument, I managed to make a similar instrument that made a remarkably good sound. This resulted in my being asked to make several more. Now whenever I have a few days free from my other work, I make one or two more, and I invariably find someone who wants them.
Although they have a mediaeval appearance, they are a relatively modern instrument, designed in the late 19th century by a music teacher who wanted an instrument that was easy for children to learn the elements of music on. In doing so, he created an instrument that makes a strange, ethereal sound; my fiddler friend played a lot of Irish music, and the psaltery was of no use for the jigs and reels she played, but for slow airs it was perfect. There is no fingering of strings, you can only play one note at a time, and it makes a wonderful sound. Come and see, and hear, one at our studio!
Although they have a mediaeval appearance, they are a relatively modern instrument, designed in the late 19th century by a music teacher who wanted an instrument that was easy for children to learn the elements of music on. In doing so, he created an instrument that makes a strange, ethereal sound; my fiddler friend played a lot of Irish music, and the psaltery was of no use for the jigs and reels she played, but for slow airs it was perfect. There is no fingering of strings, you can only play one note at a time, and it makes a wonderful sound. Come and see, and hear, one at our studio!
