The Music Maker is a species of psaltery, and so is a cousin of the hammered dulcimer. Medieval representations show the psaltery played on the lap, with the smaller end (sometimes having a "hog snout" shape) facing away from the player. Sometimes they show the player holding the psaltery with the strings facing away from himself, but one wonders if this is an actual playing position or an artistic convention which the painters used in order to make the instrument easier to see in the picture.

Ma and Praise, are you satisfied with the sound your M-M makes ?

T.