minstrel: Psaltery plectrum

[Pat Yarrow]

http://www.sankey.ws/history.html has an illustration from 1340 showing the
hognose psaltery being played with a pair of quills.  Yes, plectra would be
the plural of plectrum.
Vivien

-----Original Message-----
From: minstrel-bounces at pbm.com [mailto:minstrel-bounces at pbm.com] On Behalf
Of warden
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 12:13 PM
To: Teleri Barod
Cc: minstrel at pbm.com
Subject: Re: minstrel: Psaltery plectrum

I think the plural is plectra but I'm not sure.

I do know that early harpsichords used quills for the plucking of the 
strings, so maybe there is a lead there.  There is documentation from 
the 1300s on the construction.

Good luck!
-Bob