What is this bowed, fretted, lyre-shaped instrument?
I came across this video and would like to know more about the instrument the woman is playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF9mtpw365c
(Starting at 0:16.)
The instrument is shaped sort of like a lyre, is being played with a bow, and it looks like she is "fretting" individual strings between her fingers.
What is the instrument called? Is this the way it is usually played, or is this performer doing something unusual? Does that fretting technique have a name?
1 answer
Til Norðheims!
Just to clarify: if you're asking about the fretted instrument, that one's a mandolin. If you're asking about the unfretted instrument, then continue on!
It's a tagelharpa. A better example and without the yowling.
It's basically a sound box with a frame. You tune your strings, two of which will be drones and one for the melody. No frets and no fingerboard, you just use your fingers!
The technique seems to be similar to that used for the morin khuur.
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