Langspil in the National Museum of Iceland, in Reykjavik, Iceland.
String instrument
Classification
String instruments
Hornbostel–Sachs classification
314.1 (true board zither)
Related instruments
Langeleik, Scheitholt, Epinette des Vosges, Dulcimer
The langspil (Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈlauŋkˌspɪːl̥]; meaning long-play) is a traditional Icelandic drone zither. It has a single melody string and usually 2 drone strings.
The langspil can be played by plucking the strings by hand, with a bow or by hammering. Langspils exist in two basic versions, straight and curved and are generally around the length of 80 cm (31 in), and can be as long as 104 cm (41 in) or as short as 73 cm (29 in). Many different types of wood have traditionally been used, including pine, fir, beechwood, birch, oak and walnut, since they were generally constructed from driftwood.[1]
^David G. Woods, "Íslenska langspilið". Árbók hins íslenzka fornleifafélags. 1993. p. 109-128.
The langspil (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlauŋkˌspɪːl̥]; meaning long-play) is a traditional Icelandic drone zither. It has a single melody string and usually...
Scheitholt developed into many different variants of drone zithers, such as the Langspil, the Epinette des Vosges or the Hummel. The Appalachian dulcimer is a traditional...
songs he encountered were accompanied by traditional instruments like the langspil and fiðla, which are among the few musical instruments traditionally played...
explorer Uno von Troil visited Iceland in 1722, where he wrote about a langspil and fiddle and noted that both were played with bows. Displayed in the...
Europe, are now primarily found in Norway (the langeleik), Iceland (the langspil), Flanders (the hummel), Hungary, as well as France. A parallel instrument...
and used instruments based on Nordic folk music, such as tagelharpa, langspil, kravik lyre, and säckpipa. They further experimented with the instruments...
information. Appalachian dulcimer Epinette des Vosges Hummel (instrument) Langspil Scheitholt Gjøvik Spelemannslag both build and play together on various...
before the 20th century is widely debated, folk instruments include the langspil and fiðla (Icelandic fiddle). Both instruments are in the zither family...
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