RareInstrument.com

Rare Musical Instruments from Around the World

Discover percussion, string and wind instruments through their construction, sound, history and place in regional, ancient and ceremonial traditions.

Instruments covered

Guides range from living musical traditions to instruments known through historical records and reconstruction.

Riq Cajita Oud Hurdy-gurdy Roman tibia Carnyx Ancient lyres Ritual instruments

Explore the collection

Explore by family, tradition or historical setting

Choose a broad instrument family, browse regional musical traditions or examine instruments connected with ancient and ceremonial sound.

Explore by instrument family

Browse instruments according to how their sound is produced, including drums, plucked or bowed strings, flutes, reeds, horns and pipes.

Examples: frame drums, vessel drums, lyres, harps, lutes, flutes and reed instruments.

Percussion Strings Winds

Explore by region or tradition

Find instruments associated with folk, classical and community music traditions across different regions of the world.

Examples: riq, cajita, regional drums, traditional lutes, bowed strings and local wind instruments.

World percussion World strings World winds

Explore ancient and ritual instruments

Read about instruments documented through archaeology, historical art, written sources and ceremonial musical practice.

Examples: Roman tibia, carnyx, ancient lyres, early horns and reconstructed Hittite ritual instruments.

Ancient strings Ancient winds Ritual instruments

Inside each guide

History, construction and cultural context

Each guide explains what the instrument is, how it produces sound, where it is documented and how it is used within its musical or ceremonial setting.

Origins and history Historical periods, regions, surviving examples and documented development.
Construction and sound Materials, form, tuning, playing technique and sound production.
Musical and cultural use Performance traditions, ceremonies, processions and social roles.
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