What is a Psaltery?
In n this article, we take a look at some of the best psalteries available online today. What exactly is a psaltery?
A psaltery is a instrument from the medieval period that is similar to the dulcimer in many respects. It is played by plucking the strings with the fingers or pick (or “plectrum”). A bow is sometimes used as well. One can argue that the modern day violin, guitar and other stringed instruments owe their existence to the psaltery. In fact, early pictorial depictions of the psaltery have a striking resemblance to what we see today in the design of violins.
A psaltery is basically a stringed instrument which was harp-like in its design and concept. Ancient psalteries varied in design, with the number of strings and the shape of the instrument differing with the iterations.
Throughout the Renaissance era, psalteries were relatively abundant throughout Europe. They were often depicted in paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. This illustrates how significant the psaltery was to the culture at that time. Since its decline in the 15th century, the psaltery resulted in the harsichord – basically a large psaltery with a keyboard system to pluck the strings.
The design has seen many iterations throughout the generations. The most prominent concept now is the bowed psaltery. This is basically a triangular device with a boat-like structure. It’s usually laid flat on a surface for ease of use. As the name suggests, it’s played with the use of bows.
Why Would People Want to Play a Psaltery?
There are quite a few different reasons why you may want to play the psaltery. For most people, the ancient heritage of the psaltery attracts them. The psaltery produces music that is similar to the mountain dulcimer – soft and sweet. These are sounds that modern guitars simply can’t reproduce.
Despite their peculiar design, psalteries are actually surprisingly easy to play. They are also quite a head-turner. Few people have seen a psaltery, much less heard of them.
Psalteries also have biblical significance, and are featured prominently in the Bible (specifically the King James Version) as a musical instrument. It still maintains its roots today, used on many occasions in playing traditional Christian music as well as folk music in Europe.
Bowed psalteries also share similarities to the violin. Those familiar with using a bow will appreciate how easy the transition is when moving from a violin to a psaltery. Despite these similarities, there are a few notable differences which we highlight below.
What Makes a Good Psaltery?
The typical psalteries of high quality are comfortable to hold. They are also able to produce a beautiful sound. The best are able to balance these out, and oftentimes can get quite complex in their artistic designs.
Being friendly to different playing positions is important to enabling as many playstyles as possible. Another factor in the quality of a psaltery is how it’s strung and how easily it can be tuned. The more finicky the design, the harder it is to learn and the more care it will need than normal instruments. Take note though that this last factor is not as large as other factors. It will always be the case that some versions of an instrument need just a bit more love and care than others.
Lastly, equally important to play style friendliness is compatibility. Emphasis on compatibility with different companion implements like the pick and the noter enable great diversity. If you can play it with these kinds of tools, your abilities with the instrument to produce sounds new to you is greatly aided.
Today, you can find psalteries for sale in many music themed stores across the world. There’s also a wide selection of psalteries available online. Here are our top three picks on Amazon.
Zither Heaven’s Black Walnut Bowed Psaltery
This 22-string bowed psaltery is often available on Amazon. Right off the bat, it looks very appealing. The black walnut finish gives the instrument an air of elegance with a soft reverence. It weighs about three pounds, which may make it the type of psaltery that is not readily hefted (for those who prefer that play style) but laid on a flat surface and played with grace.
Zither Heaven (manufacturer) in their description touts this psaltery as being easy to play. All the current Amazon reviews seem to agree with this. One minor gripe is the flimsiness of the bow that’s shipped with the product. People who are committed to buying this instrument may find it necessary to invest in a second, more sturdy bow. This is not a major problem though since the strings produce the desired sounds with minimal pressure.
We can all agree that we’re getting a good value. In addition to the psaltery and bow you’ll receive a tuning wrench, string chart (with stick-on note letters and note layout,) and a fleece drawstring bag for carriage. It would have been better if it had come with a sturdy and durable case as opposed to the drawstring bag, but as an entry level device it’ll serve its purpose. There is no left hand variant available.
Roosebeck Alto Rounded Psaltery
Roosebeck offers this 30-string instrument on Amazon. It’s expertly crafted with smooth sheesham wood and sits elegantly in any musical set. The psaltrery’s 30 strings range from F4 to Bb6, giving a wider variety in note choices than average offerings. The creatively carved rosette adorning the soundhole was a nice touch.
Roosebeck’s offering weighs about 4 pounds, making it more ideal for play on a flat surface as opposed to being hefted. The bow that comes with it is high quality, but the manufacturer also recommends changing the strings as soon as the product arrives. In addition to the instrument and psaltery bow, you’ll receive a tuning tool and rosin.
Reviewers on Amazon note that the sound quality is very good, allowing musicians to play songs easily and quickly. Unfortunately, there are no left hand variants.
Master Works Bowed Psaltery with Case
This offering from Master Works also sits on Amazon’s platform. This time you have the option of choosing between three types of wood for the body: cherry, walnut or sipo wood.
This psaltery is lighter than many others, boasting a weight of approximately 2 ½ pounds. This light nature allows it to be hefted with ease and increases the variety in play style. A smartly placed finger hole at the back of the psaltery allows it to be carried with ease and convenience.
The case is phenomenal and sturdy. It’s padded and water resistant, with a zippered pocket for the bow. Speaking of the bow, it’s expertly crafted from real Mongolian horse hair.
Musicians who pride themselves on the quality of their instruments will find that their expectations were exceeded by this quality psaltery. Master Works touts their brand, revelling in the handcrafted expertise of their products.
In addition to the psaltery, case and bow, the buyer will also receive a tuning wrench, string gauge chart and rosin.
Reviewers on Amazon were certainly not shy about heaping praises on this psaltery. Most spoke highly of the quality in build and attention to detail. The word ‘Heavenly’ was used in multiple reviews to describe the sound when the bow interacts with the impressive array of thirty strings.
If you’re interested in other dulcimer-like alternatives, check out our guide on dulcimer guitars!
