Instruments of the Globe

Balaphone

A form of xylaphone originating in Africa, it is traditionally made from African hardwood and bamboo, and can often be found accompanying tribal storytelling.

Bombard

The bombard is a predecessor of the modern oboe and was prevelant in medieval Europe.

Cornett

Cornetts, like Trumpets, originated in Europe, which is virtually the only place in the world to have developed horns with finger holes piercing them and then subsequently with valves. The earliest records of the cornett suggest it first appeared around the 10th C A.D.

Cumbus

The cumbus is a stringed instrument very similar to the oud and lute, but with a longer neck.

Dulcimer

The Dulcimer is a stringed instrument that was the immediate predecessor of the better known pianoforte. The strings in both of these instruments are struck to produce sound much like the modern piano. Dulcimers were extremely popular in medieval Europe.

Lute

The lute is a stringed instrument which was especially popular in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. Lutes actually have their origins in ancient Mesopotamia and can be seen in pictures from as early as 3000 B.C. where it was a popular instrument generally played by men (other instruments such as the harp tended to be played by women players). This style of stringed instrument was subsequently introduced in to ancient Egypt under the name "Nefer" and gained popularity throughout the arabic and middle eastern worlds where it became known as the "Oud". The crusaders, probably the Knights Templar and Troubedors, were responsible for its eventual migration into western Europe when the name "Oud" at last turned into "Lute".

Marimba

A form of Xylaphone that originated in Africa.

Oud

The oud is a middle eastern stringed instrument with six double strings, a short neck and angled tuning section. Still popular today the oud is descended from the ancient Egyptian "Nefer" which in-turn is descended from a Mesopotamian stringed instrument. Ouds also became popular in Europe where they were called lutes, after being introduced by the Knights Templar who discovered them while on crusade. The name "oud" is arabic for wood.

Sackbutt

A form of bass or tenor trumpet that uses a slider similar to that on a trombone to change the pitch output. It was first developed from the curved Roman Buccina and its development in fact led directly to that of the trombone.

Shawm

The shawm is a medieval woodwind instrument which is in many ways a predecessor to the modern day oboe. It is a double reed instrument in which the reed is mounted upon a short metal cylinder in a similiar fashion to that of a bagpipe.

Tabla

The tabla originated in Northern India and is carved from a single piece of hardwood, it typically forms the right hand half of a pair of drums. It is also known as a dayan and is about 8 inches high with a diameter of around 6 inches. The left hand drum, called the bayan is slightly larger. This style of drum is derived from those used in India during the 5th and 6th centuries A.D.

Vibraphone

The vibraphone is a twentieth century version of the xylophone with motorised resonators to enhance and extend the tones produced.