Arts & Culture Obsolete Musical Instruments

....that are hardly played or virtually no new music written for them anymore.

Here's a couple - the theobro and the viola de gamba {Laudate Dominum, Claudio Monteverdi}:



their body of works is seldom heard & usually performed at obscure events such as this one.

 

Another, the Organistrum

 

Similar to the organistrum is the hurdy-gurdy.

Here's a modern composition with electronic accompaniment about the epic novel, Beowulf, played in the old medieval style:

 

The Lute was an early European medieval instrument which was the predecessor of the modern guitar.


The Fairy Round, Anthony Holborne


The Night Watch, Anthony Holborne

 

The crumhorn is another which has bitten the dust. It has largely been replaced by modern wind instruments such as clarinet or oboe:


Al Milanese Castell´Arquato Manuscript - XVI Century Italian Renaissance Music

 

The Theobro is still around here are two popular groups who bring the Big Guitar to life.

 

This is ForumVancouver's 3500th discussion!

 

The clavichord was one of the earliest keyboard instruments. It worked on the principle of metal appendages hitting a string mounted on the instrument, similar to the modern piano which uses felt hammers to make contact instead.



The clavichord is seldom used for musical performances now and is mostly commonly found in museums these days.

 

The khaen (khene) from Laos.


Modified sheng, a free reed wind instrument dating back to 1400 BCE.

 

Behold the nyckelharpa