Category Archives: History

The year of the Psalter

Posted on June 27, 2020 by

My focus of research has lately been drawn to instruments in early medieval psalters. With the main focus on the Utrecht and Stuttgart examples. So much that I themed this year the “Year of the Psalter” Both are masterpieces of … Continue reading →

Posted in Documentary, History, Living history, lyre, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Uncategorized, Year of the Psalter | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To hang our Lyres up to the Willows…

Posted on June 25, 2020 by

“By the waters of Babylon,     there we sat down and wept,     when we remembered Zion. On the willows there     we hung up our lyres.” Psalm 137:1-2 (ESV) o you probably have heard these verses? They are fairly well known. The people … Continue reading →

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Early Medieval Iron Making

Posted on March 3, 2020 by

This movie is the first thing I ever saw about early iron production. And it fascinated me completely. Literally combining the four elements in the process to make something. Earth + water make cobb Air dries the oven Fire breaks … Continue reading →

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Voboam: Guitars fit for a king

Posted on February 4, 2020 by

It’s probably the most well known name when it comes to baroque guitars: Voboam. Rather than a single maker, there is a whole dynasty of luthiers, spanning almost a century. It started with pater familias René Voboam, whose 1641 guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, History, Research, Think different, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

14 Histoires de Guitares

Posted on January 31, 2020 by

At the 8th of january an enveloppe fell on my doormat. So far nothing unusual, that happens regularly, but this time it contained a nice surprise: the new cd “14 Histoires de Guitares” by Canadian guitarist David Jacques. Over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Documentary, Guitar, History, Lectures, Music, Research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New plans: Gosewyn Spyker – a guitar from 1760…

Posted on November 23, 2019 by

Today I will give a lecture for the Dutch Lute Society about the oldest surviving guitar from the Netherlands. Made in 1760 in Amsterdam by Gosewyn Spyker. This guitar was preserved in the collection of Duivenvoorde Castle, where it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, History, Projects, Research, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Prittlewell Lyre

Posted on July 10, 2019 by

In 2003, archaeologists of the Museum of London Archaeology uncovered the remains of an Anglo-Saxon grave chamber near Southend, Essex. It soon became apparent this was not a normal burial. The person had been laid to rest with a plethora … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Living history, lyre, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“The Beast unleashed”- the Lion Theorbo leaving the nest.

Posted on March 26, 2019 by

As you know I am working on a large theorbo after the Matheus Buechenberg (Rome, 1614) in the V&A museum. Nomally I make lutes with anything from 7 to 19 ribs. But making a 41 rib bowl in Yew heartwood … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lute, Music, Printing press, Projects, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Workshop | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Guestblog: The Lyre of Trossingen – pt. 3

Posted on February 26, 2019 by

Luit van der Tuuk is a Dutch author and independent researcher, specialized in the early middle ages. He is also the curator of Museum Dorestad in Wijk bij Duurstede. In the early middle ages, musical instruments had a special meaning, … Continue reading →

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Guestblog: The Lyre of Trossingen – pt. 2

Posted on February 12, 2019 by

Luit van der Tuuk is a Dutch author and independent researcher, specialized in the early middle ages. He is also the curator of Museum Dorestad in Wijk bij Duurstede. In 1857 Matthias Hohner started the manufacture of harmonicas in Trossingen. … Continue reading →

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