Strings
The most common stringed instrument used by the Romans was the Greek lyre, as well as the kithara, which is a larger version of the lyre. An example of the lyre being played can be found on the home page.
The strings on a lyre were all the same length, so variance in tension was used to create the different tones. The strings would be plucked, and in the case of the kithara, a pick might have been used, similar to a modern guitar pick. The style in which these would have been played is very difficult to know, as very few written songs survive. |
Wind
Percussion
The first percussion instrument is the cymbals. Two iron pots were banged together to create a rhythm for the rest of the group to follow. It is often assumed that these were mostly used by orgiastic cults, though there is little proof one way or the other.
Also famous (and still commonly used today) was the tympanum or tambourine (literally translated to hand drum). This consisted of a circular frame, usually made of wood, with many small cymbals set in the frame. A diagram of this system can be found here. |
Hydraulis
While the Romans adapted, or completely replicated, most of their musical instruments from surrounding cultures, they invented one of the first known organs. The hydraulis (pictured left) is a water powered wind pipe system, played by pressing keys, or in some cases moving sliders, to force air through pipes of different diameters and lengths. Below is a basic diagram of how this would have worked.
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Recreation of the Hydraulis being played