The Carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron
Age Celts, attested for ca. 300 BC to 200 AD. It is a kind of bronze trumpet, held
vertically, the mouth styled in the shape of a boar's head. It was used in warfare, probably to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents.
Evidence for the carnyx
Depiction in sculpture
The instrument is known from depictions, on coins, and notably from the initiation scene of the Gundestrup cauldron.
Literature
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 BCE
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"
Archaeology
Foreigners of Greek appearance (wearing the
chlamys cape over short
chiton tunics, with short curly hair and headbands, playing carnyx (κάρνυξ) trumpets lower left) honouring the
Sanchi stupa with gifts, prayers and music.
Sanchi, North gate,
India. 2nd-1st century BCE (Click image for reference).
A well preserved example is the Deskford Carnyx, found on the shores of the Moray
Firth, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in
1816. Until 2004, fragments of only four other carnyces had been preserved, but in November 2004
archaeologists discovered a first century BCE foundation deposit of five well preserved carnyxes under a Gallo-Roman
fanum at Tintignac (Corrèze, France). Four had boar's heads, the fifth appears to be a serpent.
Carnyx in other cultures
The carnyx was not used by Celts exclusively; its use is attested for Dacia and several are
illustrated on Trajan's column as booty resulting from the Dacian Wars. It was perhaps common all over Iron Age Europe.
It was adopted by the Greeks, also under the name Carnyx (κάρνυξ), and was equivalent to the Roman lituus trumpet.
Modern day use
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.
In 1993 John Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx for 2,000 years, and has since lectured and performed on the
instrument internationally, in the concert hall, and on radio, television, and film. There are now numerous compositions for the
carnyx, and it features on seven CDs, and on March 15 2003 he performed solo to an audience of 65,000 in the Stade De France,
Paris.
External links
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