Vintage instruments. Musical instruments - the forerunners of modern

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Music is one of the most mysterious branches of art. Today, every person knows about such instruments as piano, violin, guitar… But some 500 years ago, all this did not exist. The audience heard a completely different sound of ancient instruments, which were a bit similar to our modern ones, but still slightly different.

Harpsichord

Perhaps the most famous ancient instrument that became the prototype of the modern piano. It looked like a mini-piano that covered a range of 3 and later 4 octaves. Without a harpsichord, it is difficult to imagine the sound of music from the era of Vivaldi and Bach. We associate this instrument with ancient times, magnificent dresses and chic balls. Its sound is a little cold, glassy, sharp, but at the same time very recognizable and characteristic of the Baroque era.

Viola

An ancient instrument, which was included in the category of bowed strings and was simply adored by nobles and high-rankingindividuals. Outwardly, he strongly resembled a violin, but was slightly larger than it, and, most importantly, had six strings. The most important feature of the viola was its sound - extremely soft, gentle, muffled, literally poetic. It was definitely a chamber instrument, intended for parties and quiet dates. But it was replaced by a brighter and more eccentric violin.

Lyra

Only one name "lyre" immediately sends us back to the time of the existence of Ancient Greece. This is an ancient plucked instrument that appeared in antiquity, but was actively used by both professional and street musicians in the Middle Ages. Lyra was present in the stories of Romeo and Juliet, Orpheus and Eurydice, Tristan and Isolde. The sound of this instrument is incredibly gentle, thin, resembling dew drops.

Mandolin

Originally Italian, incredibly beautiful and unique plucked stringed instrument. We associate it with serenades under balconies, Italian medieval motifs, brave knights and beautiful miladies. Many argue that this is the prototype of the guitar. However, the structure of the mandolin is such that it forms an incredibly delicate, subtle, velvety acoustics. At the same time, the sound of the instrument is quite audible, but unsharp and unobtrusive.

Balalaika

In the list of ancient instruments, one cannot ignore the achievements of the works of domestic carpenters and musicians. From time immemorial, our ancestors carried balalaikas with them, so that at every opportunity they could play along, sing, dance and just cheer themselves up. This plucked instrument of three strings was mainly strummed, the melody turned out to be quite primitive, but this was quite enough for holidays and fun evenings.

Organ

The oldest and still the most majestic ancient musical instrument in the world. Its history begins in the era of the existence of the Babylonian kingdom, when it was still just a set of such tubes that emit a different sound. In the Middle Ages, the organ turned into something incredibly majestic, and for many even sinister - after all, it was the property of every church, which inspired fear in ordinary people.

Today no one is afraid of the organ, its sound is admired and enjoyed. This is music that comes to us as if from time immemorial, striking with its copper sound of numerous pipes, it does not leave anyone indifferent.