Langspil

The Langspil referred Icelandic designs of Bordunzither. It consists of an oblong, about 80 cm long box and has a melody string and one to five (usually two ) drone strings. The strings can be plucked, played with a bow, or even with a hammer be struck. The melody string is stretched over a fretted fingerboard.

The Langspil exists in two main body shapes, straight and bulbous. Since wood in Iceland was mainly available in the form of found driftwood from lack of trees long used to a variety of types of wood for the construction of Langspilen.

Origin and Distribution

The oldest written records of the long- Pils date from the 18th century, in which the instrument is described as an elongated, widening to an end box, which is covered with one to six strings. In the 19th century, a version appeared with bulbous body, which has improved sound quality.

In 1855 the book Leiðarvísir til að spila á langspil ( instructions on how to play the long- Pils ) appeared, which also contained an instruction manual of the instrument, although this had a printing error in the frets. This book did much to the popularity of long- Pils. Nevertheless, the instrument then lost again in importance and was played in the middle of the 20th century any more.

In the 1960s, recognized the singer Anna Þórhallsdóttir that the Langspil from the Icelandic music tradition threatened to disappear, and took a leading role in its revival. Today, the Langspil is back in stock various Icelandic bands and solo musicians. It also has a major role in the annual Folk Festival Siglufjörður. Tourists can see it in Iceland in various museums, and the Museum of Skógar the museum director Þórður Tómasson still plays occasionally visitors it before.

The Icelandic Fiðla has a similar elongated body, but in contrast to Langspil no fingerboard. Of the two or more strings, a string of melodic structure from the bottom is with a finger of his left hand touches, while the right hand stroking the bow across all strings. Closely related to the Langspil is the Norwegian langeleik.

Documents

• Zither instrument