Early Medieval Instruments
Loch Erne
The Loch Erne horn was discovered as drainage work was being conducted on the River Erne in the town land of Coolnashanton near Cleenish Island four miles south of Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh. The wooden horn banded 
with metal bindings is conical, 58cm long with a metal mouthpiece. This find was of great importance as an image exists of two of these horns being played as part of an early Medieval musical group in the Hibernno-Saxon Canterbury Psalter of the 8th century AD. The first reproduction of the Loch Erne horn was made by Dr. John Purser in 2001.
Mayophone (Bekan horn)
The Mayophone or ‘guth cuilce’ is undoubtedly the most unusual of all the Irish prehistoric instruments. The original was found in a bog during turf cutting in the townland of Bekan near Knock, Co. Mayo in 1791. Though not in great condition yet most of the instrument remains and the complete length and width can be established. Of particular interest is that the Bekan horn was played with a beating reed. Exploration of the first reproduction revealed a multy note instrument which behaved in a similar fashion to a long lip reed horn and yet was played as a type of bassoon. So perhaps it was a form of hybrid which was developed in the Medieval period and subsequently fell out of use. It is remarkable that this unique and clever arrangement should have been preserved by a bog on the Western extremity of Europe.
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Prehistoric Music Ireland,
Crimlin, Corrnamona,
Co. Galway, Ireland
Phone: +353(0) 949 548 396
bronzeagehorns@eircom.net
©2005,PREHISTORIC MUSIC IRELAND