The psaltery is a very known instrument during the olden times. It is a string instrument that is actually from the same family as the zither or the harp with the only difference is that one would be using a bow to play it like a violin. If one is curious as to how psalteries originated, here is a brief background of this very influential instrument.
For those who do not know what this instrument looks like, it is a triangular shaped instrument that has some strings and some pins. It also comes with a bow wherein one will be able to make the strings sound with it. Now although people usually play it with a bow, it can also be played by strumming or plucking with hands like a guitar.
Now the original psaltery was not what the modern psaltery would look like as the modern psaltery was only created some time during the twentieth century. Now the old version was a square shaped instrument that did not come at all with a bow so people really had to use their hands to play it. This old version was first mentioned in the Bible during the time of the famous king known as King Nebuchadnezzar.
Now aside from that, the psaltery was also mentioned during the Medieval times as an instrument that was played along with the zithers or harps. Now this version was different than the previously mentioned one as it was slightly bigger and had a sound hole that is located in the middle of the instrument. The purpose of this hole was to make the sound of the strings more apparent.
Now the year nineteen twenty five saw the introduction of the bowed version of the instrument. The one who created it was a German instrument maker who worked for the German company Clemens Neuber Company which patented the instrument so only they could produce it. Now before this was known as the bowed psaltery, it was first known as the violin zither.
After the creation of this one from the German company, the Americans tried to create something rather similar. They used Hawaiian culture as an inspiration for this type of instrument that they were creating. They called this creation of their the Ukelin and the sounds were actually quite similar to that of the Hawaiian ukulele.
Now this instrument really gained worldwide popularity after the ending World War II. A German primary school teacher known as Walter Mittman used the psaltery in some of his classes. He was following the footsteps of famous music teacher Edgar Stahmer who popularized the use of this instrument for classes.
In the modern world, the psaltery has withstood the test of time as many people still love to play it. The only difference is that nowadays, it can be played in so many ways with so many different bows. One can see that the instrument has not only withstood the test of time but it has also evolved over the years.
For those who do not know what this instrument looks like, it is a triangular shaped instrument that has some strings and some pins. It also comes with a bow wherein one will be able to make the strings sound with it. Now although people usually play it with a bow, it can also be played by strumming or plucking with hands like a guitar.
Now the original psaltery was not what the modern psaltery would look like as the modern psaltery was only created some time during the twentieth century. Now the old version was a square shaped instrument that did not come at all with a bow so people really had to use their hands to play it. This old version was first mentioned in the Bible during the time of the famous king known as King Nebuchadnezzar.
Now aside from that, the psaltery was also mentioned during the Medieval times as an instrument that was played along with the zithers or harps. Now this version was different than the previously mentioned one as it was slightly bigger and had a sound hole that is located in the middle of the instrument. The purpose of this hole was to make the sound of the strings more apparent.
Now the year nineteen twenty five saw the introduction of the bowed version of the instrument. The one who created it was a German instrument maker who worked for the German company Clemens Neuber Company which patented the instrument so only they could produce it. Now before this was known as the bowed psaltery, it was first known as the violin zither.
After the creation of this one from the German company, the Americans tried to create something rather similar. They used Hawaiian culture as an inspiration for this type of instrument that they were creating. They called this creation of their the Ukelin and the sounds were actually quite similar to that of the Hawaiian ukulele.
Now this instrument really gained worldwide popularity after the ending World War II. A German primary school teacher known as Walter Mittman used the psaltery in some of his classes. He was following the footsteps of famous music teacher Edgar Stahmer who popularized the use of this instrument for classes.
In the modern world, the psaltery has withstood the test of time as many people still love to play it. The only difference is that nowadays, it can be played in so many ways with so many different bows. One can see that the instrument has not only withstood the test of time but it has also evolved over the years.
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