Psaltery

Subject: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:33 PM

Where is the best place to buy a Psaltery from and how easy is it to play if you can read music?.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:36 PM

Plucked or bowed? If you aren't sure, describe.... Looks like a mini hammer dulcimer in outline, or like a metronome/teardrop with strings?

~S~

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:37 PM

To use a bow as i got arthritus in my hands,i thought it be easier to play.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:37 PM

Bowed psaltery then. There are some old threads.... dunno if they have purchase info....

~S~

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:40 PM

I have a look for the threads.
Thanks Wysiwyg

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:47 PM

I think Katlaughing has a bowed psaltery. Good hunting!

~S~

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:49 PM

I also think Herga Kitty has one too,i will catch up with her on a "PM" or e-mail.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 02:33 PM

No I don't - have PM'd SD!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 02:43 PM

I've got one, but I made it years back. Sounds like you ar a UK resident.
You could try the Early Music Shop in Bradford http://www.e-m-s.com/. They are specialists in all sorts of ancient insruments.
Quack!!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 02:46 PM

Your absolutely right UK by birth and UK in death unless i move to Italy.I will look that site up and see what i can find.
Thanks Quack.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: GUEST,KJ
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 03:55 PM

I bought one recently from e.bay, didn't want to spend a small fortune if I didn't 'take to it', dunno how often they appear on there.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 05:53 PM

Both of mine are plucked. Both bought off ebay and I'm quite happy with them.:-) I DO have a psaltery bow as I use it sometimes on my lap dulcimer! Neat sound.

Good luck,

kat

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 08:16 PM

Used to see a lot of 'Build it Yourself' kits for Bowed Psaltery - Dont look too difficult to make , and are fairly easy to play even if you only play by ear .

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 08:38 PM

Scooby - we have one, but it's been out of tune for at least 14 years. It's a bugger to tune. You're welcome to have a try with it next time you are in London.

LTS

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Jen M
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 10:14 PM

I bought mine at a craft fair. It came with cheat strips that tell me where the notes are--useful since I really know very little about music. I can pick out a tune one it and have had 5 year olds successfully play simple songs by telling them which letter to bow. They are so happy when they play!

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Kent Davis
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 10:30 PM

Any of you who live near West Virginia can get a bowed psaltry at Tamarack, in Beckley, just off Interstate 77.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 04:08 AM

Thanks for your advice.
Liz i may be in London once a year at a conference so thats out for sure.I am considering in buying one to see how easy it is to play,they dont seem to expensive either for an instrument.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 07:45 AM

I have just ordered one from Early Music Shop Bradford.It be here within 2-3 weeks.Yippee.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: leeneia
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 11:15 AM

Have your heard one played?

Cooper & Nelson play one that'll loosen your fillings.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 11:23 AM

NO i dont think i have heard one play but due to my arthritus it looks like the instrument too play.I have a lot of spare time on my hands due to disabilities so by Banbury i should have learnt at least one tune.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 09:01 AM

Better not buy one till you've heard what it sounds like.

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: Eye Lander
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 10:13 AM

curious why not?

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: wildlone
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 12:54 PM

I Bought mine from Colin Thomson at Maiden Newton after hearing Pete Shutler of the Yetties playing one.
I agree with leeneia if you can play it before you buy it[not possible when buying online though].
cheers dave

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 05:27 PM

I picked up and played a bowed psaltery way back in the 70s - it is as easy as a piano keyboard.

I know my hearing was rather unusual as I could hear very high frequencies. A crazy neighbour firing a starting pistol in my direction has given me tinitus so I can't hear as well as before, but I found the sound of the psaltery quite pleasant.

The psaltery I played belonged to a friend of mine in Market Harborough, Leicestershire - I shall think of his name as soon as I send this - he made irish pipes as well - the ones with a bellows to drive them. He went of to Southern Ireland, county waterford I think to make pipes there.

It is very easy to make a sustained note with a psaltery but perhaps they need to be of a size large enough to have long enough strings to make a pleasant deep note for average hearing?

Anne

Subject: RE: Psaltery
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 05:45 PM

refresh