David:
Well, I could be wrong, but since bowed instruments are more recent that
plucked, it would seem that way. The crowd is one of those many instruments
that (I believe) evolved from the Greek Kithara and are known throughout Europe
by various names..zither, citera, etc (ha ha). The same root word gave us
guitar and cittern.
Someone along the way decided to try bowing a crowd (crwth) and the bowed
instrument associated with Wales evolved fro that.
That's what I think happened, anyway.
Brad
David Cushman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
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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