The haunting sound of the carnyx echoes through the ages, a window into the world of the ancient Celts. This bronze wind instrument, dating back approximately 2,000 years, was an integral part of Celtic culture, used in both wartime and peaceful settings. The word “carnyx” is derived from the Gaulish language and means “antler” or “horn,” an apt name given the instrument’s distinctive appearance.
The carnyx is a striking instrument, with its elongated, S-shaped form designed to be held vertically. The opening of the carnyx was typically fashioned in the shape of an animal’s roaring mouth, often that of a boar or other fierce creature. The height of the carnyx was impressive, standing as tall as its player, usually around 1.8 meters or nearly 6 feet. This unique shape allowed the carnyx’s sound to carry over large crowds, or even armies, making it an ideal instrument for intimidating foes and communicating messages over great distances.
The animal symbolism in the carnyx’s design is a fascinating aspect of its history. Historians and archaeologists believe the Iron Age Celts used animal imagery to represent ferocity and aggression. The carnyx’s roaring mouth, shaped like that of a wild boar, was a powerful representation of the Celtic warrior spirit. Other examples of animal imagery used in this way include shields adorned with engravings of boars and sword scabbards with dragons etched into them.
Although a limited number of carnyces have been discovered, the question of how they sounded has long intrigued historians and musicologists. While it’s impossible to know for certain, scholars have attempted to recreate the carnyx’s sound based on the surviving examples…
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it never work since the romans and alexander smack the celts up
I would think that these instruments would also help the warriors to fund their way back to the safety of their side after getting disoriented in the course of battle. Imagine running wounded right to the enemy front line because you were discombobulated from battle?
Dacian people (now Romanians) also used a similar instrument, the Dacian War wolf. It is also depicted on Traian's Column in Rome, commemorating the Roman-Dacian war.
Riveting stuff. Strangely unknown to me .Having Irish ancestors. And the Pogues.
cool
Great vid , 😹🦫🛶& I'm already subscribe apparently .
Makes me wonder if the use of bagpipes, presaging a Scots’ advance, is a hold-over of the carnyx.
did… did you just show a stock image of a Japanese katana when you were talking about how the Celts had blades with dragon imagery? i don't think i need to do a whole lot of convincing that the iron age Celtics did not have Katanas. Animals where more likely carved into the hilt, i cant really find a Celtic iron age scabbard with a dragon or any animal for that manner, the Celts used iron plates as scabbards and even though they were able to work iron fairly well, it was a harder metal to work with, creating an ornate piece from iron just to use for your scabbards would probably be really hard and seen as wasteful. the hilts would be made from wood or ivory, a softer and more easily carved material. so yea, remove the stock image of the Japanese katana, which litraly has as a plastic guard on it with an Asian dragon
Ah yes the Celtic didgeridoo.
thats cute, now do one on the aztec death whistle.
I'm a tad skeptical about the sound that was played. I'm about 80% sure that sound is from a reed instrument like a bassoon or something mid way between an oboe and a bassoon. It sounds more woody and soft than the loud, crisp sound of a trumpet or brass instrument. Actually showing someone play the instrument would clear that up, but this video doesn't have such footage.
The use of imagery of a japanese katana to illustrate the decorations of celtic weapons, as well as definitely modern "pagan" jewellery designs instead of footage of true celtic art makes me wonder how much the author really delved into the subject of this video. Those things don't even remotely look like gallic or brythonic designs from the iron age! There are wonderful finds of celtic torques, fibulae, coins or swords as well as beautiful replica. To present a japanese dragon instead of a gaelic serpent, a neopagan amulet instead of a gallic knotwork fibula, is just lazy.
🌿😆🌿 Certainly did not work on the Romans 😂
Was the carnyx a brass instrument in the sense that the user had to create the sound through vibration of his lips as with a trumpet, trombone, or tuba or was it a woodwind instrument that used a reed of some kind to produce the vibration in the way that a clarinet or saxophone does? Alternatively, was the vibration produced some other way?
That's all very interesting, but I just wanted to hear it out of curiosity on my way out the door and then watch the whole thing later, oof. >.<
I think the restorers need to work on the voice of the instrument. There was nothing frightening or unhinging about it. Rather, it was sad and lamenting.
You said,a whole lot of nothing! And we already have heard that horn! Everyone has seen gladiator! You just repeat everything that a history channel says! A waste!
Awesome
Wow… just wow…. How are we to believe anything you post when your videos are so inaccurate? You identified a Japanese sword as Celtic and most of your battle scenes are 14th century re-enactors wearing bascinets. If you don't have the correct videos or photos, just show the ones you know are accurate.
The carnyx being discovered and recreated is a fascinating piece of history. Without all the modern day white noise we have around us, it must have been truly awe inspiring; and or terrifying to hear these horns play out in the distance.
It’s hecking scaryyyy
Good one!
As a trumpet player, I have always heard of brass trumpets being used in battle to instill fear in the opposing armies, and to send commands to the soldiers while fighting to take advantage of the battle changing tactics mid fight. The Carnyx was, and is an example of battle trumpet success for the people who used them!
That's a 'Gaelic' musical instrument mate. Not a so-called celtic one. Hobbits and Smurfs.
Thank you
My family ancestors are responsible for enilating the Celtic Nation and brought Christianity to England, Scottland and Ireland. They knew what the Carnics horn sounded like. What Celtic that were left to live were made into white slaves to keep them under control. This was all done back in the 13th to 15th Centries.
Disney's film Brave featured a carnyx scene with one with a bear's head.
So much for the SOUND I guess……!
I wonder what Hertz Level? It is.
Is this how bagpipes were invented?
I have two experiences that offer substance to your video: 1) Hearing a pack of wolves howl is unforgettable. Each member begins separately, the howl jumping up a fifth and descending by half tones. Dissonant & yet the hearer is able to track individual voices. 2) Finding lengths of kelp seaweed on the Monterey shore after a storm. Where they break at the holdfast, you find a natural mouthpiece and the 10 foot or longer stem is hollow. Although our lips got sticky from the algin at the break, we were able to blow/buzz as into any other horn to produce several pitches, without prior instruction. Put these together with warriors practiced in playing a range of notes (the higher pitched, the smaller intervals one can make) down to the fundamental and resonating across the landscape, that would impress the coolest heads approaching combat.
One would need to be outdoors and experiencing dozens of them directed at them from a distance to get a real sense of what it was like back in the 4th century BC. The Celts were top dog but they sacked Rome and created such a psychological wound in the Roman people that the Romans went on a tear of conquest and fierce pursuit of military advancement for centuries. Payback was harsh. The Romans put an end to the Celtic's fighting ways until the Vikings mixed in with them and resurrected it, so then they went and wounded the English and the payback for that cost them New France (all of Canada). What did England do? They went on a tear of Conquest and Empire creation, subjugating nations the world over. People never learn.
I find it fascinating that the same sounds can be terrifying or relaxing depending on the situation.
Wonder how unnerving it might've been to hear more than one might be?
Hear The Made In China Authentic Replica Of The 2000-Year-Old Instrument Used to Terrify Opposing Armies
What is the song playing at 3:50
Please and thank you!
“Wesa gungans are ready to do oursa part!”
1:33
Shields adorned with ENGRAVINGS of boars (they're painted)
And sword scabbards with dragons etched onto them
Shows the disc guard of a katana?
I hope the imagaes weren't meant to go with the video lmao
Trumpets of war?
I’m from Romania; we also have had an instrument like this. It was used by military troups in the ancient time: the name is Dacian draco. The form of a dragon with open wolf-like jaws containing several metal tongues; was held up into the wind and made noise like the wolfs
The instruments at 3:38 looks like an aardvark.
I'm wondering if the carnyx found in France may have had to be symbolically killed so that they could pass along with whomever the horns were buried with. If the Celts believed the horns possessed souls or magic they couldn't leave this plane whole. Just an idea.
That "sword scabbard" is a katana guard you dunce
We have similar instrument in India….called Singa..,
Carnix might had more vicious noise than the Vuvuzela.
HALLO THE DACIANS THE ACTUALLY ROMANIA USE IN THE WAR AGAINST ROMAN IMPERIUM A WULF WITH A SNEK TEIL THE NOISE WAS TEREFAING
Beautiful.
Scotland isn't Britain, regardless of how much the English might think it is.
Jazz is terrifying.