Playfellow by Anthony Holborne c. 1545-1602 played by Tommy Johansson - Orpharion

The Orpharion has got its name from the famous musical Greek gods Orfeus and Arion.
William Holborne, Anthony´s brother, published a
book with music for the Cittern and it seems that they both liked plucked metalstrung instruments of their age. My Orpharion is made by Stepen Barber, London, 1981 The Orpharion is the "little brother" to the Pandora but instead tuned like a lute in fourths and one third.
The basses are diatonic where the lowest is tuned to a D. I have put octave strings on this instrument which I think sounds the best. I have also followed the "old" recommendations of tuning the topstring when it sounds at its best and then I tuned the other strings. The pitch is something between a 415 and a 440!
Please visit this webpage for more information about the orginalinstrument by francis Palmer:
http://www.cittern.theaterofmusic.com/old/palmer.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Orpharion
• Pandora
• Lute
• Vihuela
• da
• mano
• Theorbo
• Anthony
• Holborne
• Tommy
• Johansson

[Imperial7Progtasian]

Hi. I've been searching for an Orpharion for ages but can never find one. So I was wondering if you could direct me to one.

Thanks

Will

[Ski56ppy]

Hi Will, there are not many makers these days and it is hard to recommend any particular today. My Instrument was built 1981. The important thing is about fretplacements, it has metalfrets. You also need a meantone tempered fretboard. Otherwise it is difficult to get it in tune.

Look at the Lute society for makers.

All the best

Tommy

[hermx0]

You must be a happy man amidst all these wonderful instruments - lute, theorbe, orpharion, pandorra etc - and all very well played!

Thanks, Tommy, for sharing all these lovely and inspiring impressions with us!

[Ski56ppy]

Hi, yes I am a very happy man and even happier when I get such inspiring comments as your!

Thanks again and all the best

Tommy

[dbadagna]

My first time hearing/seeing this instrument. Thank you so much for providing it (in such a great and musical performance) for the world to see and learn about.

[Ski56ppy]

Hi, thanks to your kind comment! It makes me happy!

All the best

Tommy

[haimcito]

lovely interpretation and sound, congratulations!!!!!!!

[haimcito]

lovely interpretation and sound, congratulations!!!!!!!

[TheCovenant2]

Awesome.. and I bet it's damn hard to restring these :D

[IGOROZKARSKY]

THE LOOK ALONE IS EYE-CATCHING !

& THE SOUND WONDERFULLY BEAUTIFUL !

& THE CHOICE OF SONG SUPERB !

Does this music have the tendency to make one poetic ?

[CecilyHeron]

What a beautiful, celestial sound. Why is it that the sound is so rich given that the soundbox is probably smaller than a lute's? Quite magical stuff.

[Imperial7Progtasian]

@Ski56ppy Thanks! :)