ClipArt ETC

The ClipArt gallery of Miscellaneous Ancient Musical Instruments provides 26 illustrations of the ancient banjo, bagpipe, trumpet, busine, cithara, crwth, harp, organ, and other ancient instruments.

This image shows two different forms of the ancient banjo. It is equipped with 4 string, and has a curved body.

Ancient Banjo

This image shows two different forms of the ancient banjo. It is equipped with 4 string, and has a curved…

There are several instances of some sort of ancient instrument, consisting of metallic plates or rods, played by means of a hammer. Many have considered these to have been the original type of the modern instruments of percussion, where metal plates are vibrated by means of hammers or mallets.

Ancient Percussion

There are several instances of some sort of ancient instrument, consisting of metallic plates or rods,…

This is the arm rest for musicians who play violin, the arm rest is a musical instrument implement used to facilitate the musician when playing music.

Arm Rest for Musical Instruments

This is the arm rest for musicians who play violin, the arm rest is a musical instrument implement used…

Ancient forms of the harp, drum, flute, and castanets.

Assorted Musical Instruments

Ancient forms of the harp, drum, flute, and castanets.

The Assyrians held music in honor, and empoyed it for liturgical purposes, as well as those of social and private life. Among the discoveries at Nineveh and Babylon are many of a musical character. Strong bearded men are playing upon harps which are of a triangular form, but of a different structure from most.

Assyrian Music

The Assyrians held music in honor, and empoyed it for liturgical purposes, as well as those of social…

"Ancient Persian Bag-pipes" — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

Ancient Persian Bagpipe

"Ancient Persian Bag-pipes" — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

A bronze 'lur' trumpet from the Bronze Age. Not drawn to scale.

Bronze Age Bronze Trumpet

A bronze 'lur' trumpet from the Bronze Age. Not drawn to scale.

A type of straight Medieval trumpet usually made of metal.

Busine

A type of straight Medieval trumpet usually made of metal.

A type of straight Medieval trumpet usually made of metal.

Busine

A type of straight Medieval trumpet usually made of metal.

An illustration of a man playing the cithara.

Asiatic Cithara

An illustration of a man playing the cithara.

King David, playing on the three-stringed crwth.

Crwth

King David, playing on the three-stringed crwth.

This illustration shows a harp from the XXth dynasty, about 1300 B.C., it had 21 strings, and was elaborately colored and ornamented with gold and carvings.

Harp

This illustration shows a harp from the XXth dynasty, about 1300 B.C., it had 21 strings, and was elaborately…

This image shows harps used by minstrel's in the thirteenth century.

Harp

This image shows harps used by minstrel's in the thirteenth century.

An Assyrian Harp.

Harp, Assyrian

An Assyrian Harp.

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.

Musical Instrument

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music.…

An illustration of two men playing the organ.

Organ

An illustration of two men playing the organ.

An illustration of two men playing the organ.

Organ

An illustration of two men playing the organ.

An illustration of a woman playing the organ and a horn.

Woman Playing Organ and Horn

An illustration of a woman playing the organ and a horn.

An illustration of organ pipes.

Organ Pipe

An illustration of organ pipes.

This image shows an ancient pipe organ. A pipe organ is a keyboard instrument that makes its sound by forcing air through wood or metal pipes.

Pipe Organ

This image shows an ancient pipe organ. A pipe organ is a keyboard instrument that makes its sound by…

A cross sectional view of an organ flue pipe. The compressed air is sent through A. As the air enters through the pipe, the lip, D, cuts the air. This produces sound for the organ.

Cross Sectional View of Organ Flue Pipe

A cross sectional view of an organ flue pipe. The compressed air is sent through A. As the air enters…

"The Reed is the sounding part of several instruments, such as the clarionet, bassoon, oboe, and bagpipe, so called from its being made from the outer layer of a reed. The name is also applied to the speaking part of the organ, though made of metal."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Organ Reed

"The Reed is the sounding part of several instruments, such as the clarionet, bassoon, oboe, and bagpipe,…

The reed of an organ.

Organ Reed

The reed of an organ.

A small portable organ, much used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, consisting of sometimes two sets of reed pipes played with keys for the player's right hand, with small bellows for the left hand.

Regal

A small portable organ, much used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, consisting of sometimes…

A small portable organ played with the figures of the right hand, the left being used in working the bellows. It was much used during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Regal

A small portable organ played with the figures of the right hand, the left being used in working the…

"Sansa. An African musical instrument which consists of a sounding-board of some hard wood with strips of iron, or occasionally bamboo, fastened to it so as to leave one end free to vibrate." -Whitney, 1911

Sansa

"Sansa. An African musical instrument which consists of a sounding-board of some hard wood with strips…