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Medieval Harp
Original design based on medieval
illuminated manuscripts.
Black walnut with hand-carved maple soundhole rosettes.
This harp, although looking
more modern than the Luttrell Harp below, is based on illustrations from
the same period. It is an original design that I developed from similar
harps depicted in several 13th through 15th century illuminated manuscripts.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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The "Luttrell" Harp
Original design based on English
14th Century illuminated manuscript known as the Luttrell Psalter.
Maple, black walnut, and hand-carved tagua nuts.
Several illuminated manuscripts,
which are religious documents hand lettered and illustrated by medieval
monks, contain many examples of early musical instruments, some fairly
accurate, some fanciful. The most famous complete manuscript is the Spanish
13th century Cantigas de Santa Maria, which was commissioned by
Alphonso X. In it are a very large assortment of medieval instruments,
many with Moorish and Arabic influences.
The Luttrell Psalter, is another
fairly complete manuscript and is currently housed in the British Library
and can be viewed on the British Library web site. This manuscript has
only a couple of instrument illustrations, and the most famous is of King
David playing a harp. It is this particular harp that is the influence
for my piece. Comes with stand.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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Mini Hog-nose Psaltery
Original design
Maple frame, salvaged Douglas fir or redwood top, salvaged apple or birch
back. maple or black walnut bridges and soundhole rosette.
This is a small (12"
wide x 8" high x 1" deep) hog-nose psaltery fashioned for beginners
or children (ages 8 and above). It is a full two-octave diatonic instrument
that has a lovely, bright tone. These go fast, and I try to have a few
available at all times. I make these primarily from salvaged woods, so
they can vary. To find out what is currently in stock, please e-mail or
call.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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The "Memling" Psaltery
Original design based on "Angels
Making Music" by Hans Memling, c. 1480
Black walnut and salvaged Douglas fir with hand-carved maple and black
walnut soundhole rosettes.
I based this 3-octave hog-nose
psaltery on the famous painting by Hans Memling, "Angels Making Music",
housed in the Antwerp Museum. It is one of those incredibly detailed Dutch
paintings from around 1480 that shows many instruments of the period.
I have always played the hog-nose psaltery with the "snout"
pointed up (bass strings on bottom), which seems natural to my style of
playing, but nearly all paintings, illustrations, and carvings show the
reverse, the "snout" pointing down. I always feel that whatever's
comfortable is the way to play it. This is a single-course instrument
(one string per note).
SOLD at Open
Studios Art Tour 2007.
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"Mini" Psaltery
Original design, influenced
by Spanish 13th Century illuminated manuscript, Cantigas de Santa Maria.
Salvaged Douglas fir, maple, and black walnut. Hand-carved soundhole rosette
of black walnut.
I originally planned this
18-string mini psaltery as a beginner's instrument, but the beautiful
tone makes it a wonderful piece for everyone, beginning and experienced
players, to travel with and play. Comes with display stand.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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Chapter House Psaltery #1
Design based on instrument
depicted in fresco in the Westminster Abbey Chapter House, London, England
Oak , recycled Douglas fir, ebony accents, soundhole carvings of Eastern
black walnut
When my wife and I visited
England a few years ago we signed up for a Verger-guided tour through
Westminster Abbey, which allowed us access to portions of the abbey that
casual visitors often miss. One of the "special" rooms we got
to see was the Chapter House, in the older section of the abbey, where
the walls are covered with 14th Century frescos. One wall showed many
crowned and robed figures playing instruments of the period, all surrounding
the heavenly host. Some of the instruments show a fair amount of detail,
as you can see by clicking on the "Fresco" link on the left,
and I am in the process of drawing plans and building examples of several
of them. The Chapter House Psaltery is the first. It is strung with 14
doubled strings and has a very lovely warm tone. Comes with stand.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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Wing Psaltery #3
Design based on historical
instruments
Salvaged redwood and birch, maple
Examples of this style of
psaltery have been discovered in Babylonian, Asyrian, and Egyptian excavations
that date back over 1000 years B.C. Mine are based on a little more current
instruments, from the Medieval period around 1100-1400 A.D. This one is
made from redwood salvaged from a 125-year-old Santa Cruz Victorian house
that was undergoing remodelling and renovation and from birch salvaged
from a dead tree cut down at the Santa Cruz Art League. It is a little
over 2 octaves with 17 strings.
E-mail
or call for price and availability.
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