Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info

Subject: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 09:55 PM

I need info on a bowed psaltry(?). I recently came into possession of one from a friend and I'm looking for info on the instrument-how to play, history, etc. I also want to give my friend a fair sum for it. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 11:10 PM

I have paid less than a hundred dollars for each of my three psalteries, Steve. The left side strings should be tuned f# g#a#c#d#f#g#a#c#d#f#g#a# and the right side gabcdefgabcdefga from the pointy end to the wide end....Unicorn Strings in Florida may have some books or accessories for your psaltery. Good luck! Ivan Styles has a web site and he plays a mean double bowed psaltery...I believ his web site is pickeringbend.com..harpgirl .

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Steve
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 05:46 PM

Thanks Harpgirl!! Interesting instrument. Elderly Instruments has a couple listed, but they're more than $100! My friends bow has seen better days, but it sure s fun to play with. Any ideas on its origin?

Cheers, Steve

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltery Info
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 06:13 PM

Click here for a page that may interest you, Steve. I'll quote a bit:

Psalteries are found, in one form or another, in every major folk culture in the world dating back 1000's of years. They came in all shapes and sizes, some were plucked, some were struck and some were bowed. The most sacred musical instrument of the ancient Hebrews was a plucked psaltery with 10 strings which dates back to Biblical times. The hammered dulcimer is actually a struck psaltery that originated in the middle east over 3000 years ago. The bowed psaltery's history is cloaked in mystery making it difficult to say for sure when and where it originated. The modern psaltery is very, very different from its ancient relatives in that the builders today have access to materials and equipment not available even 100 years ago.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: folk1234
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 10:29 AM

Try contacting Russell Cook at Wood n Strings. His builds and plays the hammer dulcimer and the bowed psaltery. Web site = www.wnsdulcimer.com

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 10:55 AM

...well Steve, I got Ivan's website wrong but here is Unicorn Strings: blue clicky thing...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 12:58 PM

...steve, e-mail your bowed psaltery questions to Ivan Stiles at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: GUEST,harpgirl
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 05:38 PM

refried

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 01:32 PM

re-refried

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Duane D.
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 12:07 PM

FYI, Harpgirl's info on the tuning in NOT universal. I have seen at least 3 variations in scale length and there are right and left handed versions. Mine was built by David Kingslake of Red Creek, West Virginia, in 1988, and is a right-handed model, with a 2 octave range in the key of G. The starting note is G.

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: GUEST,June
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 05:16 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Alice
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 12:48 PM

Just a note - Mudcatter Kudzuman makes bowed psalteries (among other instruments). You can view and order from his web site:

KUDZUMAN Click here

Alice

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 04:01 PM

Steve,

   Just idle curiosity, who did you get the psaltery from? I have a friend (in northern Illinois) who built two really good bowed psalteries, I have one and the other went to a Wisconsin musician friend of mine.

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Alice
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 04:12 PM

Phil, this is an old thread. Not sure if Steve is still reading the forum.

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 05:56 PM

...my first bowed psaltery was made by Edward Damm who lives in Maine now with his wife and kids. When I knew him he had "Great Lakes Dulcimers" in Michigan. His Maine store is called "Song of The Sea" and the website is here:
http://www.songsea.com/

The psaltery Eddie made me has my "mark" which is a crescent moon over a pine on a steep incline. It is cracked now and I don't play it but it has an honored place on my heart below the "fireboard". My other two came to me by way of friends from Unicorn....hg

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 06:11 PM

Alice, Thanks. I guess I should look at the dates more closely.

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Alice
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 08:05 PM

Anyone have good links to sound files of bowed psaltery playing? The Unicorn site files do not load at all for me.

Alice

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 10:29 PM

Your thread struck a wee cord in my brain - yes, 3 years ago when I was back in Brittany ( a place that I had previously worked in)
It was a warm summer day and I was taking in the joys of sitting around the Cathedral in Quimper. I suddenly heard this beautiful and ancient sound. It was a man palying an instrument that I had never seen before.
It was, of course someone playing the psaltire.
As I was with a LBFM a Scottish radio station at the time I asked and was invited to record him.
He gave me a copy of his CD and on it I found the most moving acknowledgements of one of the recent great tragedies in our land.
It's the track called "Gwerz pour des enfants d'Ecosse"
I'm not given to emotionalism but I cry every time I play this track.

If you guys are into the Bowed Psaltry, then please get this Jean's CD.

Here's all the details I know;

Artist; Jean-Louis Gault

Title; Le Miroir Des Sources

The only ref on the CD is JLG1/1096

If you can't find it, I've got lots of friends over in Brittany so don't give up. Feel free to pm me.

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: harpgirl
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 10:40 PM

rise up

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 04:24 AM

The info on here has helped me.Thanks Harpgirl

Subject: RE: Bowed Psaltry(sp?) Info
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 05:48 PM

refresh