John Barleycorn - Bring us in Good Ale - Westron Wynde

[toodance]

Plaintive lament for the wife and the ale tune for you? : )

Your music is very lovely and your comments entertaining!

I like your bow. It looks like a fat little horse hair baby violin bow!

[nolicnotrut]

@toodance Thanks for looking/listening.

This remains 'work in progress'.

Yes, it is a violin-type bow, about 1/16th size in fiddle parlance, and it IS horse-hair.

BUT, unlike modern violin bows, the shaft curves upwards and away from the the hair - that gives more tension and means you're not restricted to holding just the frog!

I try to be entertaining (educative?) with my descriptions and responses to comments. Feedback is always welcome.

Good wishes,

Colin.

[toodance]

@nolicnotrut Fascinating bit about the bow! Thank you.

The curve also makes logistical sense, because it seems with a typical violin bow it woud get trickier to maintain an even tone hopping over the top of the psaltery, if you get what I mean.

So, with the tension distribution on the curved bow, freeing the hand from the frog makes sense. Interesting...

(I wonder how a small cello bow would sound, with the extra helping of horse hair and rosin. Over kill?)

[dholeton]

Colin

Your psaltery sounds very good and you play it to make great music! Very nice medley too.

Thanks and greetings from Tennessee, USA

Dave

[nolicnotrut]

@dholeton Thanks, Dave.

It's good to be in touch.

Good wishes,

Colin.

[nolicnotrut]

They're all slightly spooky songs/tunes!

Thank you.

[noonoobaggins]

Nice!, thought the sound is a bit haunting for the song but a ruddy good version and very well played.

Funny, I always think of the Spinners when I hear this song ;-)

[casetone2514]

Very good, Colin. Bowed psaltery is notoriously difficult - it is for me, anyway!

[nolicnotrut]

Thanks, Tony.

Actually, as long as you avoid the sharps and flats, it's quite easy. The notes are all there in front of you. All you have to do is get them in the right order! My main difficulty is keeping the beast in tune. I have published some observations on my blog. Youtube comments doesn't handle 'links'. Just search for st-anley on 'blogspot'.

[raymondcrooke]

Well that instrument is new to me. Sounds good though.

[nolicnotrut]

Thanks, Raymond.

It's a wierd instrument and difficult to play anything up-tempo without stumbling over those pegs. Hitting sharps/flats, which I carefully avoid by using the Aeolian mode, requires a certain dexterity that I have yet to acquire.

[susiakasinead]

Oh my, Colin!!!!!!!!!!

That's super cool. Never seen one or heard one before.

[nolicnotrut]

Thanks, Susi, I hope you liked the tunes!

[ormoluinhen]

blimey - what is that!!! i don't know, but I like it!!

[nolicnotrut]

Thank you.

It's a bowed psaltery - a bit like a dulcimer, but played with a short bow.

It was invented early-twentieth century - I supect by a frustrated violinist who couldn't handle the fingering with his left hand!

I jest, of course, but in spite of it's 'ancient churchy' sort of sound, it is a relatively recent invention.

My wife doesn't like it!

[LeSanglierDeLaRuche]

I swan... no matter WHAT tune you play... that THANG turns it into weeping music. But good weeping music. I love a plaintive whine.

[nolicnotrut]

Oh, you noticed the 'THANG'.

That was intentional!

Can I lend you a handkerchief?

[gresiu7]

HeLLo my FRIEND

I see U R busy tHaT greaT 5*****

cheeRs from AMSTERDAM

[nolicnotrut]

Thanks for those stars my Dutch friend.