Crwth facts for kids
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| Classification | Bowed string instrument |
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| Related instruments | |
The crwth (/kruːθ/ krooth) is an old stringed instrument. It's a type of lyre that is played with a bow. The crwth is especially linked to Welsh music. It was once played all over Europe, but now it's not as common.
Only four old crwths still exist today. You can find them in museums in Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Warrington, and Boston in the US.
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What's in a Name?
The name crwth comes from the Welsh language. It might come from an old Celtic word meaning "round object." This could be because of the instrument's rounded shape. Other Celtic words for violin also mean something rounded.
In English, the crwth was often called a crowd or rote. In old Latin, it was called chorus or crotta. A person who played the crwth was called a crythor in Welsh. Some English and Scottish last names, like Crowther or MacWhirter, mean "player of the crowd."
When we talk about the crwth today, we usually mean the more modern version of the instrument.
A Look Back in Time
People believe that string instruments like the crwth have been played in Wales since Roman times. We have clear records of the crwth being used since the 11th century. This was around the time bowing instruments first became known in the West.
In Wales, the crwth was important, but the harp was usually seen as more important. The crwth shows how instruments changed over time. It started as a lyre, then a fingerboard was added. This allowed players to make more notes on fewer strings.
How the Crwth Looks and Sounds
The crwth is built quite simply. It has a flat fretless fingerboard and six strings, usually made of gut. Two of these strings run beside the fingerboard, not over it. These are called "drone" strings. Players could pluck them with their left thumb to make a steady sound.
The other four strings go over the fingerboard. These strings are played with a bow, which is made of horsehair and wood. A special feature of the crwth is its bridge. One leg of the bridge goes through a soundhole on the top of the instrument. It rests on the back of the crwth. This helps support the strings and the soundboard.
Old pictures show crwth players holding the instrument against their chest. A strap around their neck helped support it. A medieval poet once said the crwth had "a hundred voices in the hand." This describes the rich sound of all six strings playing together.
The crwth, along with the harp and timpan, was one of the three main string instruments in Wales. It was played by important people and had its own special music. There was even a strict test to become a master crwth player. A simpler, three-stringed version was played by traveling musicians.
The crwth's sound is softer and a bit rougher than a modern violin. It sounds great with the harp and pibgorn (a type of hornpipe). Even with some limits, the crwth is a charming instrument. It's much more than just an old curiosity.
Welsh Stories and Legends
There are many Welsh legends about a character called Crythor Du, or "The Black Crwth Player." One famous story is "The Black Crwth Player and the Wolves." In this tale, the player escapes hungry wolves by playing his crwth in different ways.
Another legend tells of a player and his servant who died from the cold in Beddgelert. There's also a "Cave of the black crwth player" near Criccieth. This cave is said to have inspired a tune called Ffarwél Ned Puw (Farewell Dick the Piper).
The Crwth Today
Today, many people are making new crwths. Makers like Guy Flockhart and Michael J. King are helping to bring the instrument back. A few folk musicians are learning to play the crwth again.
Cass Meurig is one of the most well-known modern players. In 2004, she released an album called Crwth. This was only the second CD ever made of crwth music! Other musicians, like Bob Evans and Dan Morris, also play the crwth.
There aren't many old crwth tunes left. However, musicians are adapting other traditional songs for the instrument. They are also writing new music for it. The crwth is also used by some groups who play early music.
See also
- Tromba marina
