MEDIEVAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Celtic Harp
This page, called ‘Locksley’s E-Z Harp Method’, written by W. J. Bethancourt III, provides a short history of the Celtic harp and ‘A Means of Familiarization with the Medieval Celtic Harp Designed For the Musically Illiterate’.
Crumhorn Home Page
Including detailed bibliographies and links to a couple of sound files, this well-researched account, written by Nicholas Lander of Australia, will probably tell you all you need to know about the crumhorn, the curved horn made of wood that was used in Europe between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Guitar (Pre-1650)
In an interesting and detailed illustrated article, Joe Bethancourt describes the appearance and tuning systems of the medieval predecessors of the modern guitar, including the lute, theorbo, cittern, guitarra latina and guittern.
Hurdy Gurdy – a brief history
In her article, Astra Thor deals with the medieval origins of the mechanical instrument originally known as the organistrum and later, in France, as the vielle à roue.
A large collection of illustrations (from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century) depicting early lutes and lute-players. It is part of the web-site maintained by lute maker Wayne Cripps.
Organetto
A brief, illustrated description of this one-person, hand-pumped organ (which was extremely popular between the thirteenth and the sixteenth centuries) can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua (Iowa State University).
Percussion
A useful, illustrated introduction to the drum and tambourine can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua.
Psaltery
A brief, illustrated description of this ancient plucked-string instrument (rather like a zither) that was extremely popular until the beginning of the sixteenth century can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua.
Rauschpfeife
A brief, illustrated description of this double-reed instrument (like a crumhorn) can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua.
Rebec
A brief, illustrated description of this bowed instrument that was popular throughout the Middle Ages can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua. (With sound file)
| Nicholas Lander has produced an impressive, well-researched account of the medieval recorder. Included in the article are links to a vast collection of recorder iconography, the earliest of which is a carving on the stone pillar of an eleventh-century French church. |
Shawm
A short, illustrated account can be found in the Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments produced by Musica Antiqua.
Unusual Musical Instruments of the Middle Ages
Yet another excellent, informative article by W. J. Bethancourt.