Does anyone know where I can find information on music and/or instruments used in ancient Gaul. Anywhere from the 1st century BC to third century AD would be fine.
By “Gaul” I mean current France and low countries.
There is a pretty good summary of the ancient music of Rome here; while it’s not what you were asking for, it hopefully represents a starting place.
You might try contacting someone from the faculty of a college or university, who might could provide you with information or put you in contact with someone who could.
You have come up with what could be a very interesting question! Good luck and best wishes on your quest to find the answers.
–James
Since the people of Gaul had no written language you are only going to learn about them from Roman documents: military reports, travel brochures, etc.
djm
Maybe the Carnyx would qualify.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnyx
David
There is also this site.
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ancient_Celtic_music
David
It seems to me not so long ago that Peter had posted an article about ancient wooden flutes/whistles that had been recovered from a bog somewhere in Ireland.
djm
Credit where due, took a lot of gaul to post this thread. ;p
Aha! I always suspected “Flyingcursor” was just a front for a coalition of French whistlers.
No.
Belgae?
I thought that was Ben Gae …
djm
It’s generally assumed that the prehistoric celtic cultures of europe were, well, pan-european. You can assume that greek writings about the keltoi they met in the balkans are as applicable to Gaul as tales from not-yet-roman britain from nearly a millenium later as they were of Vercingetorix (or Asterix) back when Gaul was divided in three parts.
Thanks everyone.
Simon, I agree. It’s not unreasonable to assume migration both ways.
Since almost every known culture has some kind of flute instrument I can assume continental celtic groups used them. No doubt there were some kinds of stringed instruments, possibly kitharas, lyres or lyras.
This one may be of interest, was going to post a few yesterday but wasn’t sure you’d be interest in anything outside the area. These will have crossed into Gaul as well.
These guys have loads of stuff but am not sure you will find it on their website
Not exactly true. There are Gaulish writings extant. These made use of other systems, especially Greek letters, in conveying their own language(s). There just isn’t a lot left behind to go by.
I never could make out their version of the lyrics to House of the Rising Sun.
djm