Do you play finger cymbals, zills, or sagat?
A little over a decade ago, I had an epiphany. Finger cymbals are our most ancient, deepest connection with our dance ancestors. From my research emerged the book “From Turban to Toe Ring.”
Ancient cymbals in museum collections
If you love looking at ancient finger cymbals, here are some sets at museums around the world. Digital collections allow us to see objects, even when they are not on display.
Ancient finger cymbals are occasionally available to purchase
For those with a taste for antiquity, there are occasionally sets of ancient finger cymbals available for sale through antiquities dealers and auction houses:
Modern finger cymbal recommendations
Looking for a quality set of finger cymbals? Check out this short list of quality brands. I own and highly recommend instruments by all four of these brands:
A few readings on finger cymbal history:
- “Identifying Production Techniques” University of Kent
- “Playing Cymbals in the Roman Empire” Dr. Audry Cotett
- “Roman-Era Egyptian Finger Cymbals” Blog Post
- “The Dancing Cymbalist” book review on Gilded Serpent
Patreon Talk: “Finger Cymbals: Ancient and Modern”
Interested in learning more? Check out my latest video on the history of finger cymbals. Now available on my Patreon feed, “Finger Cymbals: Ancient and Modern” covers recent research, ancient metallurgy techniques, Byzantine-era depictions of dancers, and more. Available at the $15 tier.
“Finger Cymbals: Ancient and Modern”
“Zills: Music On Your Fingertips”
If you are looking for more information on finger cymbals, why not check out my book? Available on my Etsy store as a printed book or a printable, and via Amazon.
