The psaltery dates back to 12th century Europe, with roots tracing to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. It’s mentioned in biblical texts, associated with worship and praise, as in the Book of Psalms (hence the name).
It typically has a flat, triangular, or trapezoidal wooden soundboard with metal or gut strings stretched across. The strings are plucked with fingers, quills, or plectra, producing a delicate, harp-like sound. Modern versions, like the bowed psaltery (played with a bow), were developed to create a violin-like sound.
During the Middle Ages, psalteries were widely used in European courts and religious settings. They were portable and relatively easy to play, making them a favorite among minstrels and nobility.
The American folk music revival, from the 1940s through the 1960s, generated renewed interest in traditional music. Popular musicians like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan often incorporated obscure or historical instruments to evoke a sense of cultural heritage. The psaltery, with its ancient roots and delicate tone, fit this ethos perfectly. This revival cemented the psaltery’s place in modern folk music, particularly the bowed version.
Psaltery Player in Ancient Greece
More Psaltery Facts
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a psalterist. Notable psalterists include Maureen Barnes, Dona Benkert, Satis Coleman, James Jones, Rick Long, Lowell Mason, Eric Meier, James Mellen, Donna Missigman, Celeste Howard Ray, Gregg Schneeman, Peter Tommerup, Ann Tucker, George James Webb, Honey Smith Walls, and Tish Westman.
Religious Symbolism
The psaltery frequently appears in Christian art, symbolizing divine harmony and praise. It’s commonly shown in the hands of King David, angels, or other holy figures, rooted in a biblical association with the Book of Psalms. The psaltery’s frequent portrayal in medieval art underscores its cultural and spiritual importance, bridging sacred and secular realms.
James Jones has been building custom musical instruments in his rural Bedford, Virginia shop since 1978. He produces an entire line of fine string instruments, including bouzoukis, hammered dulcimers, Appalachian dulcimers, harps, mandolins, zithers—and of course, psalteries. This introduction to the instrument is played on one of his 2-1/2 octave alto bowed psalteries.
Best Gifts for Music Lovers
We’ve designed 2,000+ products for string instrument musicians and fans. Find a unique gift for your favorite psaltery player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Psaltery collection.
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Cherry Wood Bowed Psaltery with 22 Strings
Product details:
Made of Cherry with a book matched Cherry top and sides
This is a big instrument, 21.5 inches long
Starts on G4 ends on F6
G4 strings vibrating length is 17.250 long
Comes tuned (may need minor tuning after shipping)
Easy to play, made in the USA
Perfect beginner instrument for all ages
Includes bow, rosin, tuning wrench, fleece draw string bag, string chart w/note lay out and stick on note letters
Since 2012 Baltic Psalteries has manufactured more than 2,000 unique handcrafted instruments. Sharing music is a passion—more than 200 psalteries have been donated to orphanages, music institutions, and large families.
Baltic Psalteries Our psalteries are designed for both professional musicians as well as people with no special musical education. We have had some fabulous reviews from folk groups and famous musicians.
Best Psaltery Gifts Collection
Our Psaltery Gifts Collection features shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, chef aprons, buttons, magnets, and more.
If you need to find a gift for your favorite psaltery player, you’ve come to the right place. We’re always creating new products and sharing our favorites from other designers.
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Welcome to our collection of psaltery gifts. We want you to have fun shopping for psaltery accessories and gifts. Choose from music, instructional guides for players, posters, T-shirts, cooking aprons, refrigerator magnets, jewelry, trucker hats, key chains, coffee mugs, cotton canvas tote bags, stickers, colorful buttons, and more unique psaltery gifts.
King David of Israel My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
The psaltery musical instrument is unique, but many people love the way it sounds and looks so it has been gaining in popularity. It’s still very popular in Irish folk music and can be seen on many Irish streets in the many musical groups who play in the downtown area of lots of the small towns and cities there.
Psaltery is an ancient word that defines an ancient musical instrument that is both harp-like and zither-like. A psaltery can be plucked or played with a bow. Psalteries are mentioned in old Greek stories, as well as in the Bible. Often when you see vintage photos and think a harp being played, it’s actually a psaltery. It’s harder to play than it looks, but still easier to play than a harp. Since it’s much lighter, it’s easier to carry around. A psaltery is less expensive than a harp and has a similar sound. If you love the sound of a harp, maybe a psaltery is a good choice for you.
Psaltery Gifts for Music Lovers
We’ve designed 2,000+ products for string instrument musicians and fans, including unique gifts for your favorite psaltery player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our Psaltery Shirts and Gifts collection.
Psaltery Elegant Scrolled Heart
This bold design features an ornate, scrolled heart with the word “Music” elegantly nestled at its center, symbolizing the passion and soul of psaltery melodies. Flanking the base of the heart are two more scrolls, creating an eye-catching composition. Below, the word “Psaltery” stands out in bold, confident lettering, making a proud statement. With its robust graphic style, this design is perfect for anyone who wants to wear their love for the psaltery with pride and flair. Visit the Psaltery Shirts and Gifts collection:
These T-shirts are sure to be a conversation starter for anyone who isn’t yet familiar with the beautiful sound created by psalteries. Choose from dozens of styles, sizes, and colors for a truly customized gift.
Cats and Dogs Easily Distracted by Psaltery Players
Here are some designs for animal lovers who are easily distracted by the sound of psaltery players. Choose from playful cats and dogs in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes for the whole family.
Who are the coolest people on earth? Psaltery players, of course! Spread the word about this cool string instrument. Makes a great gift for any music student, music teacher, or psalterist.
This psaltery design features a symmetrical heart formed by two mirrored bass clefs that face each other, their elegant scrolls meeting perfectly at the center to create a unified heart shape.
Psaltery trucker hats are available in eleven color choices. Hats feature a 100% polyester foam front and a 100% nylon mesh back to keep you cool. Trucker hats are adjustable from 17 to 24 inches.
Versatile and durable cotton canvas tote bags are another practical gift idea for musicians. These designs are available in many style and color options to please any psaltery player or enthusiast.
Mugs are one of our favorite affordable psaltery gifts. Everyone can use a few mugs. Click on any mug to see how the design looks from different angles. Choose from many sizes, styles, and colors to create a personal gift for your favorite psalterist.
Refrigerator magnets are one of our best inexpensive gift ideas for psaltery players. They’re also popular with fans of the psaltery. Standard size square magnets measure 2 by 2 inches, and round magnets are typically available in three sizes. Designs are printed on 100% recycled paper. Scratch and UV-resistant Mylar keeps magnets looking as good as new for a long time.
Classic cotton-poly twill blend aprons are another of our top picks for practical psaltery gifts. Choose from several style and color options. Spacious front pockets hold plenty of utensils and cooking tools. Aprons are machine washable and proudly made in the U.S.A.
Everyone loves buttons, and they’re one of our top picks for inexpensive psaltery gifts. Standard size square buttons measure 2 inches by 2 inches. The designs are printed on 100% recycled paper, then covered with scratch and UV-resistant Mylar for added durability. Some designs allow you to choose a different background color for a customized button gift.
One of the most popular psaltery gifts is a set of playing cards. Each comes packaged in a cardboard box for easy gifting. Poker size cards measure 2.5 by 3.5 inches, with 52 playing cards and 2 jokers per deck. Click on any design to see the available options. Standard cards are printed on smooth card stock, and premium quality Bicycle playing cards are printed on durable semi-gloss card stock.
(Psalm 33:2) Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
“Greensleeves” on Bowed Psaltery
Expert psaltery player Gregg Schneeman is also proficient on the mountain dulcimer—he’s been playing both instruments since 1972. Enjoy the ethereal sound of the psaltery as he plays the traditional English folksong “Greensleeves.”
Best Psaltery Gifts Collection
Our Psaltery Gifts Collection features shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, chef aprons, buttons, magnets, and more.
Learn more about this unique string instrument and find out where you can buy a psaltery online.
Shop for Psalteries and Accessories
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This means that–at zero cost to you–we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
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11×14 Unframed Fantasy Print Poster
