cittern  

[CITTERN] Re: Traditional British (plucked) instruments

David Cushman
Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:32:14 -0700

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the clarification - I had understood the evolution to have gone
the other direction (evolving from other northern european bowed lyres).  It
is quite a tangle, isn't it?

Best regards,

David

On Sat, Apr 5, 2008 at 12:37 PM, Brad McEwen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hi:
>
> it si my understanding tha the original medaeival "crowd" from which the
> bowed Welsh crwth derived, was a plucked instrument.
>
> Brad
>
> *David Cushman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have done a little research into the crwth and it is indeed a bowed
> instrument that survives in Wales. There is a group called Bragod who have
> done some research into the instrument and have some novel ideas about it.
> It is generally tuned Pythagorean and musically makes use of lots of drone
> notes to support a melody line. Check out this site for a little video
> background:
>
> http://www.bragod.com/4crwthhar.html
>
> There are a couple of sources for the crwth (also seen in literary
> references as "croud" or "crowd"):
>
> http://larkinthemorning.com/product.asp?pn=EAR035&ss=crwth
>
> http://www.michaeljking.com/crwth.htm
>
> A bit off from the main thread topic, but hopefully of interest.
>
> --David
>
>
>  On Sat, Apr 5, 2008 at 2:09 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote:
>
> > Damien, I'm sure other people will disagree with me, so I'll send this
> to
> > the cittern list! (also: the 'crwth' is a bowed instrument, not plucked)
> >
> >
> > Damien Delgrossi wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > > > I am suprised to read you saying that UK doesn't have plucked
> > > > > instruments traditions. What about banjos? and pictures showing
> popular
> > > > > mandolin played by folk performers long long time ago? Are you
> sure of what
> > > > > you said?
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Stuart wrote:
> >
> > > I think so. In the 1950s, some folk singers used pianos as
> > > > accompaniment! The guitar - as an accompaniment to folk songs - is
> from
> > > > the 1960s. The traditional folk songs collected from the 19th
> century were
> > > > all sung unaccompanied. The only genuine folk string instrument
> (apart from
> > > > fiddles) is the hammered dulcimer.
> > > >
> > > > Banjos, guitars and mandolins have been around in Britain since the
> > > > late 19th century. But not playing traditional folk music. They
> played
> > > > popular tunes and popular 'folk' tunes (only a distant relation to
> > > > traditional folk music) and bits of classical music.
> > > >
> > > > Nowadays, many folk players players play modern citterns,
> flat-backed
> > > > bouzoukis, mandolins and mandolas etc. But this is all from the
> 1960s and
> > > > 1970s.
> > > >
> > > > There are no plucked instruments in traditional Irish music either
> > > > (before the last few decades).
> > > >
> > > > Stuart
> > > >
> > > > Good morning Stuart,
> >
> > It is very interesting what you wrote. I understand well the difference
> > you do between folk popular tune and traditional music. People often
> don't
> > do the same and think that popular tune are always traditional. You're
> right
> > when you say that is not.
> >
> > So the only plucked instrument traditional is the medieval crwth from
> > Wales in the 9th century?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Damien
> >
> >
> >
> > To get on or off this list see list information at
> > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> >
>
> --
>
>
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