| Other names | Psaltery |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument |
| Playing range | |
| Drone (music) | |
| Related instruments | |
| Hammered dulcimer, Tabor, Psaltery, Zither, Aeolian harp | |
A psalterium /sɒlˈtɪəriəm/, or tambourin à cordes, is a stringed musical instrument, the name of which means the same thing as the one of psaltery. In specific usage, this name denotes a form of long psaltery that is tuned to provide drone chords. Sometimes called a string drum, it is usually used as rhythm accompaniment with a form of tabor pipe.[1] It is also known as tambourin de Béarn[2] in French, ttun-ttun (/cun'cun/, named after the sound emitted) in Basque or chicotén in Aragonese.
Some authors have called into question the inclusion of the Pyrenean stringed drum under the name of psalterium[3].
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It is slung on the arm or over the shoulder of a player who uses the same hand to play the pipe, while striking the strings with a linen covered stick held in the other hand. The 6 strings (3 sets) are most often tuned in octaves that match the keynote of the Tabor pipe, such as Cc Cc Cc or Dd Dd Dd etc. This musical percussion is quite pleasant and can be played pianisimo as well as forte'.
The instrument is currently widespread in the western Pyrenees, and it bears the hallmark of the territory. Apparently invented in the 15th century, it came into use in the Pyrenees, where it took hold[4]. It is popular in the easternmost Basque province of Soule (Zuberoa), where it provides along with the three hole flute (xirula) the necessary musical background for traditional dance performances and the carnival set of performances called maskarada, which takes place on a yearly basis in different villages of the former viscounty[5].
After losing ground during the 20th century in western and central Pyrenees, namely Bigorre, Béarn and Soule, the practice of the three hole flute and tambourin came almost to a halt after World War II, except for the Ossau Valley in Béarn[6]. Evidence has been gathered also that with different names (such as salterio) it was played along with the flute early in the 20th century in small areas of High Aragon[7]. From the 1970's on, the instrument has shown renewed vitality.
It is a very simple form of psaltery or box zither, made of a wooden sounding box, with strings stretched from end to end, lengthwise. Its construction is similar to that of the Aeolian harp or Appalachian dulcimer. The Pyrenean version of the instrument numbers 4 to 10 strings but 3 sets of 2 (6 total) is the common arrangement.
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