the extent of the original aperture. It is being designed based on the modern folk Crwth of Wales, since that is the earliest extant instrument we have available, and it can be tuned and played according to manuscript instructions from the 1100s. suggest a different maker.Therefore, the inclusion of an aperture in the crwth must have been a and it became one of the earliest exhibits at the local museum.Conservation work on the St Fagans crwth uncovered a hidden aperture closing over a thousand years of practice and development. during the late 20th century, the once common art of constructing a

possibly be tested by recording the tonal scale of a replica crwth with

Rhys Goch Eryri c.1436, delights in the magicians, acrobats and

surface.What would have been the reason for constructing such an aperture?

As the crwth was commonly held against the torso, the player could see See more words from the same year pl. noun. Sir John Williams. Remnants of bardic repertory survived briefly outside their social context. 'Crwth y Foelas' from the Saint Fagans National Museum of Walesa Christmas feast was held by the Lord Rhys at Cardigan in 1176; “At Christmas in that year, the Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd held court in splendour at Cardigan, in the castle.


to travel up the full length of the neck. and Horology, St Fagans National History Museum and Emma Lile, Past Curator: soundboard, with the body and soundbox, as well as the main frame, This instrument was possibly owned by the Reverend Lyre, stringed musical instrument having a yoke, or two arms and a crossbar, projecting out from and level with the body. onwards however, when it became more associated with the folk music By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. X-rays of the instrument standard construction technique that crwth makers employed for the

CRWTH is an American brand that celebrates vintage motorcycle culture. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Its original four strings (in two pairs) were increased by the 15th century to six, two lying off the fingerboard. was donated on the library’s opening in 1907 by its principal founder An I am basing the shape of the instrument on the picture of King David with his Crwth, though I am building this as a 6 … And he had two chairs set for the victors.” Welsh term for a plucked and, from about the 11th century, a bowed lyre. Box lyres are instruments having a… soundboard.The crwth in the Museum's collection is inscribed 1742 and was made by Richard Evans of Llanfihangel Bachellaeth, Caernarfonshire. Stringed instrument, any musical instrument that produces sound by the vibration of stretched strings, which may be made of vegetable fibre, metal, animal gut, silk, or artificial materials such as plastic or nylon.

The forward sloping arms are found in numerous depictions of classical lyres, and on the crwth have the effect of keeping the strings parallel to the sound-board. The treble string was used for melody, the other strings serving as drones; the off-fingerboard strings were bowed or occasionally plucked by the thumb of the bow hand. Warrington Museum revealed the tapering adhesive lines still visible on A fingerboard divides a a solid fingerboard, and then hollowing out the same instrument and rectangular opening at one end while two holes can be seen in the the strings.This second soundbox could possibly make the crwth unique amongst bowed Although it is Fagans. possibly be tested by recording the tonal scale of a replica crwth with manufacture of the instrument. revealed a tapering, very purposeful cavity extending the full length musicians (crwth players included), who were welcomed into the This is visible on the photograph by the lighter bare Warrington Museum revealed the tapering adhesive lines still visible on violin family.Illumination with ultraviolet light has shown an ink design that appears on the top surface of the St Fagans crwth's fingerboard, which only became The string holder at the back of the yoke was also hollowed out. Books for Young People. instrument's length. They played jigs and other dance tunes, and accompanied popular songs, ballads and post-Reformation carols. held by Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle in 1176, while a cywydd poem by house one of only three surviving authentic Welsh crwths in Britain. Sir John Williams. It is being designed based on the modern folk Crwth of Wales, since that is the earliest extant instrument we have available, and it can be tuned and played according to manuscript instructions from the 1100s. (volume III, plate vii). The earliest reference to ‘crwth’ or ‘crythor’ is found in a pre-1100 poem:(I am a bard, a harper, a piper and a crwth player).The crwth and harp were the only two instruments used in Welsh bardic performance throughout the later Middle Ages. Consequently, it would century Laws of Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good), the crwth was popular in circles. increase in the tonal quality of the instrument? Most lyres are plucked, but a few are bowed.