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"The European lute is derived in form and name from the Arabic "el ud," "the wood," the consonant of the article "el" having been retained in the European languages for the initial of the name. The Arab instrument, with convex sound-body, pointing to the resonance board or membrane having been originally placed upon a gourd, was strung with silk and played with a plectrum of shell or quill. It was adopted by the Arabs from Persia." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1903

Lute

"The European lute is derived in form and name from the Arabic "el ud," "the wood," the consonant of…

"Lyre, with seven strings. From a coin of Chalcis." — Smith, 1882

Lyre coin

"Lyre, with seven strings. From a coin of Chalcis." — Smith, 1882

"Greek lyres"

Greek lyres

"Greek lyres"

A man and woman sitting together. The man is playing the harp and perhaps singing.

Man Playing a Harp for a Woman

A man and woman sitting together. The man is playing the harp and perhaps singing.

A cartoon of a man playing a long trombone.

Man Playing Trombone

A cartoon of a man playing a long trombone.

An illustration of a man playing the violin while children dance around.

Man Playing Violin with Children Dancing

An illustration of a man playing the violin while children dance around.

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family (plucked, or strummed). It is descended from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. It has a body with a teardrop-shaped soundboard, or one which is essentially oval in shape, with a soundhole, or soundholes, of varying shapes which are open and are not decorated with an intricately carved grille like the Baroque era mandolins.

Mandolin

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family (plucked, or strummed). It is descended from the…

An illustration of two wandering minstrels caught in a rain storm.

Wandering Minsrtels

An illustration of two wandering minstrels caught in a rain storm.

A concert in the monastery.

A Concert in the Monastery

A concert in the monastery.

The engraving, Music from 'Mirrour of the World' by William Caxton, the first English printer.

Music

The engraving, Music from 'Mirrour of the World' by William Caxton, the first English printer.

Music banner with lyre.

Music banner

Music banner with lyre.

The word 'Musica' written in round writing. "A method of handwriting, characterized by strong curves with exaggerated shading, used in lettering..." -Whitney, 1911

Musica

The word 'Musica' written in round writing. "A method of handwriting, characterized by strong curves…

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.…

"That the Egyptians paid great attention to the study of music and had arrived at a very accurate knowledge of the art, is evident from the instruments which they used." — Goodrich, 1844

Egyptian musician

"That the Egyptians paid great attention to the study of music and had arrived at a very accurate knowledge…

"The Ophicleide is a wind instrument of metal, invented to supersede the serpent in the orchestra and in military bands."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Ophicleide

"The Ophicleide is a wind instrument of metal, invented to supersede the serpent in the orchestra and…

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.

An illustration of a piano.

Piano

An illustration of a piano.

The pied piper playing as children follow.

Pied Piper

The pied piper playing as children follow.

"The Plagiaulos. Castellani Collection (Maenad Pipes), British Museum." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Plagiaulos

"The Plagiaulos. Castellani Collection (Maenad Pipes), British Museum." — The Encyclopedia Britannica,…

An illustration of two men playing instruments.

Two Men Playing Instruments

An illustration of two men playing instruments.

"A pipe of this nature fitted with a piece of glass so as to exhibit the reed (which is a "free reed") is shown in [the illustration]. Q is the wind-chest of the bellows, into which P is fitted. In the right-hand figure the upper part of the pope is removed, so as to show the reed more clearly. A plate of metal c c, has a slit but in it, in which the tongue I may just past. By means of a curved wire, r, projecting above the top of the pipe, and the play of the tongue may be controlled and the pipe tuned. The conical pipe, H, placed at the top, serves to increase the power of the sound". -Benson, 1891

Reed

"A pipe of this nature fitted with a piece of glass so as to exhibit the reed (which is a "free reed")…

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…

A musical instrument of the trumpet kind with a slide; in fact an old variety of trombone. The instrument called sabbeka in the Hebrew Scriptures has been erroneously rendered as sacbut by the translators.

Assyrian Sacbut

A musical instrument of the trumpet kind with a slide; in fact an old variety of trombone. The instrument…

"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…

"Sarinda. A Hindu viol, which has a body made of a single wooden block, elliptical in general contour, flat in front and arched at the back, which is hollowed out to a shell." -Whitney, 1911

Sarinda

"Sarinda. A Hindu viol, which has a body made of a single wooden block, elliptical in general contour,…

"And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night." I Samuel 19:9-10 ASV <p>Illustration of Saul, javelin raised and pointed at David, in a rage as David plays his harp. David's left hand is raised to shield himself. An adviser sits to the right of Saul. A young boy, perhaps Jonathan, stands against a column to Saul's left. A dog stands at the boy's feet. The room has arched windows that open up on to the town.

Saul Tries to Kill David with His Javelin

"And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and…

The saxhorn is a brass instrument with: a, mouthpiece; b, valves; c, keys; d, bell; e, crook.

Saxhorn

The saxhorn is a brass instrument with: a, mouthpiece; b, valves; c, keys; d, bell; e, crook.

"The saxophone, a brass musical instrument invented by Adolphe Sax. It consists of a conical brass tube, curved forward and upwards at the bottom, and having a short section bent backwards at the top, upon which a mouthpiece and a reed resembling those of the clarinet are fitted." &mdash;Finley, 1917

Saxophone

"The saxophone, a brass musical instrument invented by Adolphe Sax. It consists of a conical brass tube,…

The saxophone is a musical instrument of the clarinet class in the woodwind family.

Saxophone

The saxophone is a musical instrument of the clarinet class in the woodwind family.

The serpent is a bass wind instrument, curved to somewhat resemble a wriggling serpent.

Serpent

The serpent is a bass wind instrument, curved to somewhat resemble a wriggling serpent.

The serpent is "a musical instrument, properly of the trumpet family, having a cupped mouthpiece, a conical wooden tube bent to and fro several times and usually covered with leather, and nine fingerholes very irregularly disposed." -Whitney, 1911

Serpent

The serpent is "a musical instrument, properly of the trumpet family, having a cupped mouthpiece, a…

The shamisen or samisen is a Japanese stringed instrument played with a plectrum (a) called a bachi.

Shamisen

The shamisen or samisen is a Japanese stringed instrument played with a plectrum (a) called a bachi.

One of the most important musical instruments in use among the Chinese, one that is indispensable to their temple ritual, is the Sheng. This instrument is the representative of the gourd principle; originally the bowl was formed from a portion of a gourd or a calabash, the top being covered by a circular piece of wood with holes around the margin in which the pipes, seventeen in number, are fixed. In the side of the gourd is placed a mouthpiece or tube covered with ivory, through which the player <em>draws</em> his breath. Each pipe is fitted with a small free reed of copper. A small hole is made in each pipe just above the bowl, which prevents a pipe from speaking when the air is drawn in by the player, unless the hole is closed by a finger. --Baltzell, 1905

Sheng

One of the most important musical instruments in use among the Chinese, one that is indispensable to…

The sheng or sang is a Chinese musical instrument with pipes originally made out of bamboo.

Sheng

The sheng or sang is a Chinese musical instrument with pipes originally made out of bamboo.

"The sistrum was an Egyptian instrument of music, used in certain ceremonies by that people, and especially in the worship of Isis." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Sistrum

"The sistrum was an Egyptian instrument of music, used in certain ceremonies by that people, and especially…

A sacred instrument in ancient Egypt used in dances and religious ceremonies.

Sistrum

A sacred instrument in ancient Egypt used in dances and religious ceremonies.

"The common lark of Europe, <i>Alauda arvensis</i>: so called because it mounts toward the sky and sings as it flies. Also called sky-laverock, rising-lark, field-lark, short-heeled lark, etc." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration shows a skylark perched on the ground with some grass surrounding it.

Skylark

"The common lark of Europe, Alauda arvensis: so called because it mounts toward the sky and sings as…

A sonometer is an apparatus by which the transverse vibrations of strings can be studied. It is also called the monocord because it often has only one string. On the box are two fixed bridges, near the ends, and at one end is a pulley. A string, often a steel wire, is fastened at one end, run over the bridges and the pulley, and attached to a weight holder hanging below the pulley. Weights can be added to the holder to produce tension in the wire, and a third, movable bridge, can be placed under it to change the length of the vibrating section of the string. A Sonometer demonstrates the relationship between the frequency of the sound produced by a plucked string, and the tension, length and mass per unit length of the string.

Sonometer

A sonometer is an apparatus by which the transverse vibrations of strings can be studied. It is also…

"The spinet is a keyed musical instrument much in use from 1500 to 1760. It derived its name from the spines or crowquills which, attached to levers called jacks, plucked the string and produced the tone."&mdash;Finley, 1917

Spinet

"The spinet is a keyed musical instrument much in use from 1500 to 1760. It derived its name from the…

"Interior mechanism of a spinet. A, Jack; B, tongue; C, quill; D, bristle; E, cloth damper; F, pivot; G, wire."&mdash;Finley, 1917

Interior mechanism of a spinet

"Interior mechanism of a spinet. A, Jack; B, tongue; C, quill; D, bristle; E, cloth damper; F, pivot;…

"The spinet had only one string to a note, plucked by means of a quill or a plectrum of leather."&mdash;Webster, 1920

Mozart's Spinet

"The spinet had only one string to a note, plucked by means of a quill or a plectrum of leather."—Webster,…

A music staff with 6 and a half octaves.

Staff

A music staff with 6 and a half octaves.

The Music Stool is primarily used in an office or for music performers. The stool can spin around and adjust to different heights by means of a screw.

Modern Music Stool

The Music Stool is primarily used in an office or for music performers. The stool can spin around and…

The big medallion symbol is a symbol of a violin and castanet with the background of a sheet of music. Designed by sculptor Lehr of Berlin, Germany which symbolizes the art of singing.

Big Medallion Symbol

The big medallion symbol is a symbol of a violin and castanet with the background of a sheet of music.…

The medallion symbol is a symbol of a tambourine with flutes in the background. Designed by sculptor Lehr of Berlin, Germany which symbolizes the art of singing.

Medallion Symbol

The medallion symbol is a symbol of a tambourine with flutes in the background. Designed by sculptor…

The medallion base symbol is a symbol of a lyre. Designed by sculptor Lehr of Berlin, Germany which symbolizes the art of singing.

Medallion Base Symbol

The medallion base symbol is a symbol of a lyre. Designed by sculptor Lehr of Berlin, Germany which…

The music symbol is found in front of the Tuileries a royal palace in Paris, France.

Music Symbol

The music symbol is found in front of the Tuileries a royal palace in Paris, France.

This ornament medallion symbol is a symbol of musical instruments that represent the art of singing. Designed by sculptor Lehr of Berlin, Germany.

Ornament Medallion Symbol

This ornament medallion symbol is a symbol of musical instruments that represent the art of singing.…

Thomas was a famous musician and conductor.

Theodore Thomas

Thomas was a famous musician and conductor.

A wind instrument of music, often used in war and military exercises.

Trombone

A wind instrument of music, often used in war and military exercises.

A wind instrument of music, often used in war and military exercises.

Trumpet

A wind instrument of music, often used in war and military exercises.

"There appears to have been no essential difference in form between Greek and Roman or Tyrrhenian trumpets. Both were long, straight, bronze tubes, gradually increasing in diameter, and terminating in a bell-shaped aperture." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Roman trumpet

"There appears to have been no essential difference in form between Greek and Roman or Tyrrhenian trumpets.…

A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the tines formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal (usually steel). It resonates at a specific constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it against a surface or with an object, and emits a pure musical tone after waiting a moment to allow some high overtones to die out. The pitch that a particular tuning fork generates depends on the length of the two prongs. Its main use is as a standard of pitch to tune other musical instruments.

Tuning Fork

A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the tines formed from…

An illustration showing the vibration of plates be using a rosined bow and a steel plate.

Vibration of Plates

An illustration showing the vibration of plates be using a rosined bow and a steel plate.

An illustration of a violin.

Violin

An illustration of a violin.

An illustration of waves demonstrating different nodes.

Waves

An illustration of waves demonstrating different nodes.

A wooden whistle.

Whistle

A wooden whistle.