 A modern crwth in its case The crwth is an archaic stringed musical instrument, associated particularly with Wales, although once played widely in Europe. A crwth in its case. ...
A crwth in its case. ...
A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...
A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ...
National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English, Welsh Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff First Minister Rhodri Morgan Area - Total Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS 1...
Nomenclature
Crwth is a Welsh word, pronounced to rhyme with tooth (IPA /kruːθ/ or /krʊθ/). The traditional English name, little used today, is crowd or crouth; it is also known as the rote (rota, rotta, rotte), and, in Latin, the chorus. The Irish word is cruit. The English surname (family name) Crowder or Crowther means a player of the crwth, as does the Scottish name MacWhirter. Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ...
This is a concise version of the International Phonetic Alphabet for English sounds. ...
The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...
Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...
A family name, or surname, is the part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ...
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History The origins of the crwth go back into Antiquity; it is said to have been played in Wales since Roman times at least. It bears a clear resemblance to the classical lyre, with the addition of a bow. It lingered on in Wales much later than elsewhere, but had gone completely out of fashion by the 18th century, or at the latest the early 19th, supplanted by the more versatile and powerful fiddle (violin). There are many carvings, manuscript illustrations and written descriptions of the crwth, but so complete was the abandonment of the instrument that only three 18th-century Welsh examples survive. These are held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans near Cardiff, and Warrington Museum (near Manchester in the North of England). It has been suggested that Greco-Roman be merged into this article or section. ...
The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Caesar Augustus), until its radical reformation in what was later to be known as the Byzantine Empire. ...
It has been suggested that Greco-Roman be merged into this article or section. ...
A lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. ...
For the device drawn across the strings of string instruments such as the violin to make them sound, see bow (music). ...
(17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...
Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ...
The National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru in Welsh) is a legal deposit library in Aberystwyth, Wales. ...
Aberystwyth (from the Welsh Mouth of the Ystwyth) is a historic market town, administrative centre and seaport of Ceredigion (Cardiganshire), Mid Wales. ...
The Manor House of St Fagans castle. ...
The Norman Keep, Cardiff Castle Aerial view of the Millennium Stadium The Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ...
Warrington is a large town and borough in North West England, between Manchester and Liverpool. ...
Manchester is a city in the North West of England. ...
The three northern Regions Northern England is a rather ill-defined term, with no universally accepted definition. ...
Physical description and playing technique
 Crwth being played by Cass Meurig using a neck strap; photo taken by Harry Campbell of Gwybodiadur.co.uk at the 2003 National Eisteddfod The crwth consists of a fairly simple box construction with a flat, fretless fingerboard and six gut strings, usually tuned GgDdCc. The G strings run parallel to the fingerboard, but not over it, so these are used as drones, either plucked or bowed. The remaining strings are usually bowed with a short horsehair and wood bow. One characteristic feature of the crwth is that one side of the bridge goes through a soundhole and rests on the back of the instrument (the bottom of the box that forms the resonant cavity). Although it has been conjectured that this is a primitive attempt at a soundpost, something the instrument lacks, it is equally likely that it is designed to take some of the weight of the strings off the belly (the upper surface, nearest the strings): since this is flat and unbraced, it is much weaker than the belly of a violin. A crwth being played by Cass Meurig using a neck strap. ...
A crwth being played by Cass Meurig using a neck strap. ...
The neck of a guitar showing the first four frets. ...
The fingerboard, also known as a fretboard, is a part of most stringed instruments. ...
Look up Pluck on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Pluck is a software company based in Austin, Texas. ...
Horsehair refers to hair taken from the mane or tail of horses. ...
A log bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. ...
A cello with f-holes A guitar with a round hole A sound hole is a hole in the upper sounding board of a string musical instrument. ...
Look up Back in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In anatomy, the back usually refers to the posterior side of the torso in humans and other primates. ...
Belly can refer to: The abdomen, the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax. ...
The tuning referred to above is mentioned in several manuscript sources of information about the crwth and is believed to have been the standard tuning for the instrument. It is, however, likely that different tunings would have been employed, as was and still is the case with many other stringed instruments.
The crwth can be played on the shoulder like a violin, between the knees like a cello, or held vertically against the chest, supported with a strap around the player's neck (see picture). However, since the art of crwth-playing died out so completely, the exact manner in which the instrument was traditionally played, like the tunings employed, will probably never be known for certain. A cello The violoncello, or as it is more commonly to refered to as the cello or cello (pronounced Cheh-loh), is a stringed instrument and a member of the violin family. ...
Due to the limited range, as well as the tuning and the flat bridge, the crwth is harmonically limited; its tone can seem rough compared to that of the modern violin, as well as lacking in power, but it is capable of a delicate and gentle sound. For all its technical limitations, the crwth has great charm, and is much more than a historical curiosity.
The crwth today A number of modern reconstructions of the crwth have been made; makers include Guy Flockhart, Nial Cain and Gerard Kilbride. A handful of folk musicians are reviving the tradition of playing this instrument, among them Cass Meurig (who also plays with the groups Fernhill and Pigyn Clust), Bob Evans (Bragod), and Dan Morris (Cilmeri). The repertoire of surviving crwth tunes is very small, although many other traditional tunes can be adapted for the instrument and new tunes are being written for it. Cilmery (also spelled Cilmeri) is a village in Powys, Mid-Wales. ...
Recordings Cass Meurig has brought out a CD of crwth music on the [1] label, entitled Crwth (CD272H), also featuring Nigel Eaton (hurdy-gurdy) and Bob Evans (crwth). MP3 samples of three of the tracks can be downloaded (and copies of the CD purchased) from http://www.creightonscollection.co.uk/index.html?Pages/Albums/tl/A0041-TL.htm~mainFrame French type guitar-body hurdy-gurdy A hurdy gurdy (alternately, hurdy-gurdy) is a stringed musical instrument. ...
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