Category Archives: Living history

At the roots of the guitar; The Carolingian CYTHARA.

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Perhaps you have already caught a glimpse of my research project of last year. It slipped in on some photos and social media postings. But I haven’t had the possibility to write too much about it earlier. The reason? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Cythara, Events, Guitar Plans, Lectures, Living history, Lute, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Year of the Psalter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The year of the Psalter

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

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 Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

“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 →

Posted in History, Living history, lyre, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Think different, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A new, updated Sutton Hoo lyre

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Let’s go back in history… To long forgotten times, when life was simple. Times of dreams, of joy and laughter with large gatherings of people. When social distancing was something you only did with weird relatives. The times of free … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar Plans, Living history, lyre, Projects, Research, Think different, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Early Medieval Iron Making

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

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 →

Posted in Documentary, History, Living history, Movies, Re-enactment, Research, Think different, Tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Trossingen Lyre – A new set of plans…

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

As you know a large part of my year has been occupied with research after the lyre of Trossingen and making a couple reconstructions. I often got asked to make a set of plans for people who want to make … Continue reading →

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The Prittlewell Lyre

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

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

Printing at the castle

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

A week ago I was giving a demonstration with the Minion Press at Wijchen Castle. The local television made a small item about it. The Minion Press is lent to the museum for the exhibition “Strengels en Letters” about book … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Living history, Printing press, Re-enactment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Tattooing a lyre and chisel

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

When you think about the Trossingen Lyre, often the first thing that comes to mind are the rich engravings on the instrument. “Are you going to cut those too?” was the first thing people asked me when told about the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Living history, lyre, Projects, Think different, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment