Tiompan

The tiompán (Irish), tiompan (Scottish Gaelic), or timpan (Welsh) was a stringed musical instrument[1] used by musicians in medieval Ireland and Britain.

The word 'timpán' was of both masculine and feminine gender in classical Irish. It is theorised to derive from the Latin word 'tympanum' (tambourine or kettle drum) and 'timpán' does appear to be used in certain ancient texts to describe a drum. However, the tiompán was most likely a kind of lyre.[2] Drum names applied to stringed instruments is not unheard of, such as tambour owing its name ultimately to the Persian تنبور (tambūr). Both Tympanum and Tambūr could be cognate with πανδοῦρα (pandoûra).[3]

The adjective "timpánach" referred to a performer on the instrument but is also recorded in one instance in the Dánta Grádha as describing a cruit. The feminine noun "timpánacht" referred to the art or practice of playing the tiompán.

In modern Irish traditional music, the word tiompan was used by Derek Bell, after Francis William Galpin's theories, to refer to the hammered dulcimer. Other hypothesised reproductions resemble the Welsh Crwth, and the ancient Greek and Roman Pandura.[4]

Recorded players included Maol Ruanaidh Cam Ó Cearbhaill (murdered 1329). Finn Ó Haughluinn (died 1490) was the last recorded player of the instrument.