ancient_musical_instruments

Here’s a short Instagram-friendly version in English:

5 facts about the Kravik lyre ⤵️

▪️ Found at a medieval farm in Norway, not in a grave or shipwreck. Passed down as a family heirloom. Dated to the 16th century.

▪️ The original had 7 strings — the 8th peg hole was a restoration mistake.

▪️ No frets. You play open strings only — using arpeggios or damping techniques.

▪️ Just 7 notes = more creativity. Einar Selvik (Wardruna) says limits create hypnotic, meditative music.

▪️ Soft, quiet, chamber sound. Used for sagas, poetry, and playing by the hearth.

Today = Viking revival symbol
TV & neofolk made it famous. Modern luthiers add Oseberg carvings for that ancient magic.

A common question in DMs: «What’s the difference between a talharpa and a laserharp?»

So we decided to break it down ⤵️

🔻 Talharpa — an authentic reconstruction of the medieval talharpa. It’s carved from a single piece of solid wood. It’s massive, weighty, and smells of history and craftsmanship. The sound is rich and deep.

🔻 Laserharp — a lighter, more budget-friendly, and practical version, made from lightweight birch.

Which one is for you?

✅ Laserharp is the perfect choice if you:
— Are a beginner. It’s an affordable entry point. You’ll find out if it’s for you without breaking the bank.
— Travel a lot. Birch is light, so the instrument won’t weigh your arm down on a train or a hike.
— Appreciate aesthetics and a modern approach. The laserharp looks stylish and impresses everyone. Plus, it’s easy to learn on.

✅ Talharpa is for you if:
— You’re already in love with the instrument and ready for the heavy artillery weight (both physically and financially).
— You want authentic sound and historical accuracy.
— You’re a collector or professional musician who can feel the difference between types of wood.

In a nutshell:
The laserharp is the best friend of the modern bard, traveler, and beginner. The talharpa is a special piece for connoisseurs and fans of deep antiquity.

Which one will you start with? 👇

Here are several interesting facts about the gudok (a historical Russian string instrument) we’d like to share with you today:

1. How the gudok differs from the violin
Unlike the violin, the strings of the gudok were arranged in the same plane. This allowed players to produce powerful three-string chords.
2. The gudok is very ancient
The earliest known fragment dates all the way back to the 11th century.
3. The “Amusement Chamber”
The gudok was considered an instrument of skomorokhi — wandering entertainers and “troublemakers” who were later persecuted by the church. However, during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, gudok players were actually kept on staff at the “Amusement Chamber” to entertain the royal court.
4. Beggar musicians
In old lubok prints and 19th-century engravings (for example, in the attached illustration titled “Stepan, the Blind Gudok Player from Pskov”), the gudok often appears in the hands of impoverished beggars.

Interestingly, almost no original instruments have survived to the present day. Only those specimens discovered during archaeological excavations have come down to us. Everything else is a careful reconstruction made by dedicated enthusiasts.

🎻 In the 13th–16th centuries, the rebec graced court banquets, dances, and even religious ceremonies with its sound. The rebec reached particular prominence in 16th-century England: under King Henry VIII — a passionate music lover and composer of pieces — the royal household included a dedicated rebec player. In 1547, this instrument appeared in the royal inventory alongside lutes and violins.

Today I’ll share the story of how my first talharpa was made.

The first thing I did after deciding to reconstruct this instrument was go to the Museum of Musical Culture in Moscow, study the exhibits, and decide to build the talharpa according to historical principles. That means — only a single piece of wood and a hollowed-out cavity.

But there was a catch. The only tools I had on hand were an angle grinder (plus a couple of new attachments for it). As for the wood — I think it was a second-rate timber beam, the first one I came across. I used the grinder to completely remove the interior.

And parallel to the birth of the first talharpa, I was building my first workshop. It was archaeological, dirty, loud, and incredibly fascinating.

The result is what we have now. Of course, it was a long journey full of trial and error, but it was definitely worth it.

Violin, cello, and double bass are so similar, yet they sound completely different. Their history is a race for volume, beauty, and virtuosity.

Here is the journey of these instruments:

Stage 1: The Middle Eastern Rebab and the European Fiddle (9th–13th centuries)
It all began in the East (the rebec). In Europe, it was answered by the fiddle (or vielle). An instrument with 2–3 strings, played by wandering musicians.
While Europe played fiddles, Sweden and Finland saw the emergence of the Talharpa.

· Shape: boat-like, carved from a single block of wood.
· Strings: 8–16, but only the top ones are bowed—the rest resonate sympathetically (like a sitar).
· Bow: short and curved.

Stage 2: The Russian Gudok (11th–17th centuries)
Over in Rus’, their own hero was the Gudok.

· Body: pear-shaped, often without cutouts (straight sides).
· Strings: 3 (the two lower strings are drones, continuously buzzing).
· Playing style: held vertically (like a cello) by skomorokhi (wandering minstrels), bowed with a bow-shaped stick.
· Neck: fretless and archaic.

Stage 3: The Era of Viols (15th–16th centuries)
Viols with 6 strings and frets became dominant among aristocrats. But the talharpa and gudok were their rough, folk contemporaries.

Stage 4: The Birth of the Violin Family (Italy, 16th–17th centuries)
The creation of the violin, viola, and cello—with a curved body, no frets, and 4 strings. All other bowed instruments faded into the background.

Interesting fact:
The gudok and talharpa are rare examples of instruments without f-holes on the sides. As a result, their sound is softer and more «ethereal,» which frightened the Church but captivated the common people.

Due to the rise of astrology, we checked how zodiac signs buy instruments. Let’s go ⤵️

♈ Aries — demands a carnyx NOW. Changes mind in 5 min. Wants everything at once.

♉ Ta**us — researches for months, strokes every lyre, buys the first one they saw.

♊ Gemini — orders a cravi-lyre, then calls twice to change the order.

♋ Cancer — wants it packed «like a baby.» Sends photo of lyre under a blanket.

♌ Leo — demands the best & most expensive. Buys budget gusli, calls it exclusive.

♍ Virgo — brings printed specs. Checks every peg and string. Leaves calm.

♎ Libra — 90 min choosing lyre vs cravi-lyre. Buys both to avoid offending anyone.

♏ Scorpio — listens in silence. Nods. Pays. We have no idea why.

♐ Sagittarius — orders delivery to another city, train leaves in 20 min. Courier makes it.

♑ Capricorn — arrives at 3:00 PM sharp. Pays by invoice. Signs in duplicate.

♒ Aquarius — asks about birch origin & eco-certificate. Buys regular ones — «more honest.»

♓ Pisces — pays for talharpa, disappears. «Oh, did we really order it?»

It’s a joke, but kinda true, right? 😂