The ancient carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron AgeCelts, used between c. 200 BC and c. AD 200. It was a type of bronzetrumpet with an elongated S shape, held so that the long straight central portion was vertical and the short mouthpiece end section and the much wider bell were horizontal in opposed directions. The bell was styled in the shape of an open-mouthed boar's, or other animal's, head.
Carnyx from the recently discovered Tintignac group
It was used in warfare, probably to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents, as Polybius recounts. The instrument's significant height allowed it to be heard over the heads of the participants in battles or ceremonies.
The word "carnyx" is derived from the Gaulish root, "carn-" or "cern-" meaning "antler" or "horn," and the same root of the name of the god, Cernunnos.[1]
In 2004, archaeologists discovered a first-century-BC Gallic pit at Tintignac in Corrèze, France. The deposit contained more than 500 fragments of metal objects, including seven carnyces, one of which was nearly complete. Prior to this discovery, fragments of only five carnyces had been found, in modern-day Scotland, France, Germany, Romania and Switzerland.[2] Four of the carnyces had boar's heads, the fifth appears to be a serpent-like monster; they appear to represent a ritual deposit dating to soon after the Roman conquest of Gaul.[3] The Tintignac finds enabled some fragments found in northern Italy decades before to be identified in 2012 as coming from a carnyx.[4]
The only example from the British Isles is the Deskford Carnyx, found at the farm of Leitchestown, Deskford, Banffshire, Scotland in 1816. Only the boar's head bell survives, also apparently placed as a ritual deposit. It was donated to Banff Museum, and is now on loan from Aberdeenshire Museums Service to the Museum of Scotland. The location and age of the Deskford Carnyx suggests the instrument had a peaceful, ceremonial use and was not used only in warfare. Before 2004 this was the best surviving example, and generally copied in earlier reconstructions.[5] The Deskford find was made almost entirely of brass, a metal used almost exclusively by the Romans, and strictly controlled by them.[6] Further, the basic size and shape of the Deskford find suggests it may in fact have been a Roman military draco standard.[7]
The name is known from textual sources, carnyces are reported from the Celtic attack on the Delphi in 279 BC, as well as from Julius Caesar's campaign in Gaul and Claudius' invasion of Britain. Diodorus Siculus around 60–30 BC said (Histories, 5.30):
Their trumpets again are of a peculiar barbarian kind; they blow into them and produce a harsh sound which suits the tumult of war.
Objects from Tintignac
Objects found at Tintignac were exhibited at the 2012 exhibition "Les Gaulois, une expo renversante" (The Gauls, a stunning exhibition).
Carnyx of Tintignac, discovered in Corrèze, France.
A Carnyx found at Tintignac.
A Carnyx found at Tintignac.
Casque in the shape the head of a bird, found at Tintignac.
Evocation of a Gallic ceremony in the sanctuary of Tintignac.
The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was initiated by Dr. John Purser, and commenced in 1991 funded jointly by the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland. In addition to John Purser as musicologist, the team comprised the archaeologist Fraser Hunter, silversmith John Creed, and trombonist John Kenny. After 2,000 years of silence the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx was unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993.[citation needed]
In 1993 Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx in 2,000 years, and has since lectured and performed on the instrument internationally, in the concert hall, on radio, television, and film. There are numerous compositions for the carnyx and it is featured on seven CDs. On 15 March 2003 he performed solo to an audience of 65,000 in the Stade De France in Paris.[citation needed]
On 15 June 2017 "The Music of the Forest", a specially commissioned work by Lakeland composer, Christopher Gibbs, featuring a reconstructed carnyx, received its world premiere at Slaidburn Village Hall. The four-part song cycle evoked the landscape and history of the Forest of Bowland and was performed by the Renaissance Singers of Blackburn Cathedral under the direction of Samuel Hudson. The carnyx was played by John Kenny.[8]
The carnyx is featured in the opening battle scene of Gladiator (2000); and is used as both a musical instrument and a fear-inducing weapon.[citation needed] It appears in several battle scenes of the French film, Druids (2001).[citation needed] A carnyx appears near the beginning of the 2012 Pixar computer animated film Brave.[citation needed] The carnyx is used in the Gallic soundtrack in Sid Meier's Civilization VI.
Delmarre, Xavier (2003) Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (2nd ed.) Paris: Editions Errance. ISBN2-87772-237-6
Hunter, Fraser (of Museum of Scotland), - piece by Hunter on the carnyx
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carnyx.
Look up carnyx in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Ancient Celtic music in the Citizendium
Carnyx and co. Carnyx music.
(in French, with photos)
Carnyx on a gold stater of Caesar and on a silver denarius, both from 48 BC
Rare Bardwell Iron Age trumpet sells for more than £4k
January 19, 2023
carnyx, ancient, carnyx, wind, instrument, iron, celts, used, between, type, bronze, trumpet, with, elongated, shape, held, that, long, straight, central, portion, vertical, short, mouthpiece, section, much, wider, bell, were, horizontal, opposed, directions, . The ancient carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts used between c 200 BC and c AD 200 It was a type of bronze trumpet with an elongated S shape held so that the long straight central portion was vertical and the short mouthpiece end section and the much wider bell were horizontal in opposed directions The bell was styled in the shape of an open mouthed boar s or other animal s head Carnyx from the recently discovered Tintignac group Three carnyx players depicted on plate E of the Gundestrup cauldron It was used in warfare probably to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents as Polybius recounts The instrument s significant height allowed it to be heard over the heads of the participants in battles or ceremonies Contents 1 Etymology 2 Historical record 2 1 Archaeology 2 2 Depiction in sculpture 2 3 Literature 2 4 Objects from Tintignac 2 5 Other objects 3 Modern reconstructions 4 Gallery of reconstructions and reenactors 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksEtymology EditThe word carnyx is derived from the Gaulish root carn or cern meaning antler or horn and the same root of the name of the god Cernunnos 1 Historical record Edit The serpent head from Tintignac Archaeology Edit In 2004 archaeologists discovered a first century BC Gallic pit at Tintignac in Correze France The deposit contained more than 500 fragments of metal objects including seven carnyces one of which was nearly complete Prior to this discovery fragments of only five carnyces had been found in modern day Scotland France Germany Romania and Switzerland 2 Four of the carnyces had boar s heads the fifth appears to be a serpent like monster they appear to represent a ritual deposit dating to soon after the Roman conquest of Gaul 3 The Tintignac finds enabled some fragments found in northern Italy decades before to be identified in 2012 as coming from a carnyx 4 The only example from the British Isles is the Deskford Carnyx found at the farm of Leitchestown Deskford Banffshire Scotland in 1816 Only the boar s head bell survives also apparently placed as a ritual deposit It was donated to Banff Museum and is now on loan from Aberdeenshire Museums Service to the Museum of Scotland The location and age of the Deskford Carnyx suggests the instrument had a peaceful ceremonial use and was not used only in warfare Before 2004 this was the best surviving example and generally copied in earlier reconstructions 5 The Deskford find was made almost entirely of brass a metal used almost exclusively by the Romans and strictly controlled by them 6 Further the basic size and shape of the Deskford find suggests it may in fact have been a Roman military draco standard 7 Depiction in sculpture Edit The instrument is known from depictions on coins and reliefs notably from Trajan s Column and the so called initiation scene of the Gundestrup cauldron Literature Edit The name is known from textual sources carnyces are reported from the Celtic attack on the Delphi in 279 BC as well as from Julius Caesar s campaign in Gaul and Claudius invasion of Britain Diodorus Siculus around 60 30 BC said Histories 5 30 Their trumpets again are of a peculiar barbarian kind they blow into them and produce a harsh sound which suits the tumult of war Objects from Tintignac Edit Objects found at Tintignac were exhibited at the 2012 exhibition Les Gaulois une expo renversante The Gauls a stunning exhibition Carnyx of Tintignac discovered in Correze France A Carnyx found at Tintignac A Carnyx found at Tintignac Casque in the shape the head of a bird found at Tintignac Evocation of a Gallic ceremony in the sanctuary of Tintignac Other objects Edit The Leichestown Deskford carnyx amp reconstruction Museum of Scotland Piece from a carnyxModern reconstructions Edit Carnyx Trumpet Call source source Recording of a reconstruction of the Deskford carnyx Problems playing this file See media help The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was initiated by Dr John Purser and commenced in 1991 funded jointly by the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland In addition to John Purser as musicologist the team comprised the archaeologist Fraser Hunter silversmith John Creed and trombonist John Kenny After 2 000 years of silence the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx was unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993 citation needed In 1993 Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx in 2 000 years and has since lectured and performed on the instrument internationally in the concert hall on radio television and film There are numerous compositions for the carnyx and it is featured on seven CDs On 15 March 2003 he performed solo to an audience of 65 000 in the Stade De France in Paris citation needed On 15 June 2017 The Music of the Forest a specially commissioned work by Lakeland composer Christopher Gibbs featuring a reconstructed carnyx received its world premiere at Slaidburn Village Hall The four part song cycle evoked the landscape and history of the Forest of Bowland and was performed by the Renaissance Singers of Blackburn Cathedral under the direction of Samuel Hudson The carnyx was played by John Kenny 8 Gallery of reconstructions and reenactors Edit American reenactor French museum display The Deskford reconstruction at the Museum of Scotland German reconstructions French reconstruction French reconstructionIn popular culture EditThe carnyx is featured in the opening battle scene of Gladiator 2000 and is used as both a musical instrument and a fear inducing weapon citation needed It appears in several battle scenes of the French film Druids 2001 citation needed A carnyx appears near the beginning of the 2012 Pixar computer animated film Brave citation needed The carnyx is used in the Gallic soundtrack in Sid Meier s Civilization VI See also EditDord musical instrument another type of Celtic trumpet which has been revived Lur Dacian Draco Kabura yaNotes Edit Delmarre 1987 pp 106 107 Administrator The Carnyx from Tintignac www emaproject eu Retrieved 9 May 2022 Press report Archived from the original on 1 September 2012 Retrieved 20 August 2013 UPI com Carnyx identified in Italy Hunter Internet Archaeol 2 Dungworth Home Page April 1997 Coulston J 1991 The draco standard J Roman Mil Equip Stud 2 101 114 Details Lancashire County Council References EditDelmarre Xavier 2003 Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise 2nd ed Paris Editions Errance ISBN 2 87772 237 6 Hunter Fraser of Museum of Scotland Carnyx and Co piece by Hunter on the carnyxExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carnyx Look up carnyx in Wiktionary the free dictionary Ancient Celtic music in the Citizendium Carnyx and co Carnyx music Tintignac discoveries in French with photos Carnyx on a gold stater of Caesar and on a silver denarius both from 48 BC Rare Bardwell Iron Age trumpet sells for more than 4k Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carnyx amp oldid 1120583578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
