Chrotta

The chrotta, was a musical instrument played in the British Isles, whose exact description is contested.

According to Irish historian Gratton Flood, was a small harp played with a bow. The instrument could be rested on knees or on a table.^[1]

Flood notes that the historian Gerbert^[who?] had described the chrotta as an oblong instrument with six strings, four of which on a fingerboard and two off of it.^[2]

Historian Carl Engel noted that a 6th century CE Italian writer, Venantius Fortunatus, had mentioned the "Chrotta Britanna" in a poem, but did not mention any bow.^[3]

See also

• Crwth, a similar Welsh instrument

References

1. ^ Nora Joan Clark (1 November 2003). The story of the Irish harp: its history and influence. North Creek Press. pp. 31–. ISBN 9780972420204. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ga6qcxoVdboC&pg=PA31. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
2. ^ William Henry Grattan Flood (1905). The story of the harp. Scott. pp. 9–. http://books.google.com/books?id=IJoIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA9. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
3. ^ Carl Engel (1876). Musical instruments .... Scribner, Welford, and Armstrong. pp. 93–. http://books.google.com/books?id=jO4PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93. Retrieved 6 April 2011.