View source for Psaltery

The '''psaltery''' is an old stringed instrument, a member of the [[zither]] family, which is like the [[dulcimer]] in that it consists of a sound box over which tuned strings are stretched, however these are plucked instead of struck. In that it is a stringed box with strings, it can be considered a forerunner of the [[harpsichord]].

The term “psaltery”, from the [[Latin]] “''psalterium''”, reveals its perceived similarity with the instrument of the [[psalms]] in [[medieval]] times. It was widely used in the [[Middle Ages]] but was unsuitable for the more sophisticated music developing during the early [[Renaissance]] and lost favour to the [[dulcimer]] and the [[lute]].

Reference: “The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music”


[[Category:String Instruments]]