 Langspil in the National Museum of Iceland, in Reykjavik, Iceland. | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 314.1 (true board zither) |
| Related instruments | |
| Langeleik, Scheitholt, Epinette des Vosges, Dulcimer | |
The langspil (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlauŋkˌspɪːl̥]; meaning long-play) is a traditional Icelandic drone zither. It has a single melody string and usually 2 drone strings.
The langspil can be played by plucking the strings by hand, with a bow or by hammering. Langspils exist in two basic versions, straight and curved and are generally around the length of 80 cm (31 in), and can be as long as 104 cm (41 in) or as short as 73 cm (29 in). Many different types of wood have traditionally been used, including pine, fir, beechwood, birch, oak and walnut, since they were generally constructed from driftwood.[1]
- ^ David G. Woods, "Íslenska langspilið". Árbók hins íslenzka fornleifafélags. 1993. p. 109-128.