Plucked Psaltery

This was a popular instrument during the Middle Ages, it is depicted in various

forms in manuscripts and carvings. It was brought to England during the time of

the crusades and is thought to have been based on the North African instrument the

Qanun. By the 18th century it had developed into several other instruments,

hit with hammers it became the Hammered Dulcimer, fitted with a

keyboard mechanism the Harpsichord.

These two eventually combined to produce the most important instrument

of modern times - the piano.