Psalt of the Earth

Description

Psalt of the Earth: A Bowed Psaltery Book of Techniques for Better Bowing with Music Especially Annotated for the Bowed Psaltery

Discover the beauty, versatility, and expressive potential of the bowed psaltery with this comprehensive guide designed for players of all levels. Psalt of the Earth takes you step by step from the very basics—holding the bow, finding your first notes, and developing smooth tone—to advanced bowing techniques that unlock the instrument’s full voice.

Inside you’ll find:
Clear instruction on bowing fundamentals, slurs, intervals, and phrasing—explained with the bowed psaltery in mind.
Dozens of carefully chosen songs—from beloved hymns and carols to folk classics and international tunes—arranged and annotated to reinforce each new skill as you learn it. 52 songs in all!
Progressive exercises and drills that build confidence and fluency, whether you’re playing simple melodies or fast, across-psaltery passages.
A rich repertoire spanning sacred, folk, seasonal, and traditional music, including “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” “Red River Valley,” “Skye Boat Song,” “Simple Gifts,” “Carrickfergus,” and many more.

Whether you are picking up the bowed psaltery for the first time or seeking to refine your bowing technique, this book offers a balance of history, instruction, and repertoire to make your playing smoother, more expressive, and more enjoyable.

With Psalt of the Earth, you’ll not only expand your skill set but also your repertoire—so you can play with confidence at home, in jams, or in performance.

Songs

I – Slower pieces, simple slurs, connected bowing

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow ………………………… 15

Down in the Valley ………………………………………………………….. 17

Red River Valley …………………………………………………………….. 19

Blest Be the Tie That Binds ……………………………………………… 21

On Top of Old Smokey …………………………………………………….. 23

Now the Day is Over ……………………………………………………….. 25

Tum-Balalaika ……………………………………………………………….. 27

Away in a Manger …………………………………………………………… 29

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly ………………………………………………… 31

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen …………………………………………. 33

The Huron Carol …………………………………………………………….. 35

Coventry Carol ……………………………………………………………….. 37

Abide With Me ……………………………………………………………….. 39

Sio Canoe Song ………………………………………………………………. 41

A Bunch of Thyme ………………………………………………………….. 43

The Holly and the Ivy ……………………………………………………… 45

Bunker Hill ……………………………………………………………………. 47

II – Ascending/descending slurs, slur from black to white notes, flicker slurs

Joy to the World ……………………………………………………………… 49

O Little Town of Bethlehem ……………………………………………… 51

Silent Night …………………………………………………………………… 53

There’s a Song in the Air …………………………………………………. 55

Skye Boat Song ………………………………………………………………. 57

Aura Lea ……………………………………………………………………….. 59

Soon May the Wellerman Come ……………………………………….. 61

Den hoboken Dans ………………………………………………………….. 63

Dark Eyes ……………………………………………………………………… 65

Star of County Down ………………………………………………………. 67

Westphalia Waltz ……………………………………………………………. 69

David’s Lamentation ……………………………………………………….. 71

Waterbound …………………………………………………………………… 73

Carrickfergus …………………………………………………………………. 75

The Castle of Dromore…………………………………………………….. 77

All Through The Night ……………………………………………………. 79

Aloha Oe ……………………………………………………………………….. 81

III – Faster pieces, more across-psaltery bowing, larger intervals

O Christmas Tree……………………………………………………………. 83

Go Tell it on the Mountain ………………………………………………. 85

Balleydesmond #2 ………………………………………………………….. 87

Simple Gifts …………………………………………………………………… 89

Coleman’s March ……………………………………………………………. 91

Down by the Garden Gate ……………………………………………….. 93

The Quilting Party ………………………………………………………….. 95

Bayah Kubo …………………………………………………………………… 97

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing …………………………………. 99

Young Roddy McCorley ………………………………………………….. 101

Eleanor Plunkett …………………………………………………………… 103

For Ireland I Won’t Say Her Name ………………………………….. 105

Southwind …………………………………………………………………… 107

Wildwood Flower …………………………………………………………. 109

Prairie Flower ……………………………………………………………….. 111

Spanish Ladies ………………………………………………………………. 113

Norwegian Girl ……………………………………………………………… 115

What Child is This? ……………………………………………………….. 117

Alphabetical Index …………………………………………………………. 119

Christmas Songs Index…………………………………………..……… 122

About the Authors ………………………………………………………… 123