The Carnyx’s Appearance Before Wales v Iceland Match Explained

Spectators of the Wales v Iceland match on Tuesday evening may have observed a substantial horn played prior to the game’s commencement. This striking golden instrument, measuring 12ft (3.6m) in height, is identified as a carnyx, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Celtic period. Movie enthusiasts might recognize the carnyx from its appearance in the initial sequences of Gladiator, where it serves both as a musical device and a weapon. The question arises as to why this instrument was featured before thousands of supporters at Cardiff City Stadium. The Barry Horns, the musical group responsible for Tuesday’s presentation, stated that the carnyx historically served to ready the Celts for combat against the Romans. Gas Man, the Barry Horns musician who performed with the carnyx, explained, “The performance was a bit of a medley of some of the strongest patriotic Welsh anthems.” He added, “I was quite keen to do something somewhat in the Welsh traditions, so you may have picked up on little rhythms from Yma o Hyd as well as a little bit from the chorus of the Welsh national anthem.” The ancient Celts originally utilized the carnyx during the period spanning 200 BCE to 200 CE. This instrument is a bronze trumpet characterized by an S-shaped head, designed to be held upright. Barry Horns member Fez stated, “It was used to whip the Celts up into a frenzy, so they’d fight the Romans.” He further elaborated on its historical context, saying, “The myth is that the carnyx players would stand at the top of the valleys and plays this horn to sound as the Romans were marching below and then they’d go into battle.” Its considerable length enables the carnyx to project its sound effectively over large gatherings, whether of soldiers or, as in this instance, football spectators. Fez commented, “The Romans were fascinated by them.” He added, “It was a total diversity of Celtic tribes that seemed to adopt this mad instrument.” Given that the carnyx is millennia old, the Barry Horns acknowledged the challenge involved in mastering its use. Fez asserted, “No one’s played this thing for two thousand years.” He continued, “No-one knows how to play it. We’ve all had a go on it. It’s suited to a trumpet or trombone player.” During the performance itself, Gas Man encountered an unforeseen obstacle: the prevailing weather conditions. He remarked, “One of the really unexpected things was the cold conditions.” Gas Man further explained, “I think anybody who plays a brass instrument would understand just how difficult it is to play when it’s really cold!” To date, approximately twelve ancient carnyxes have been discovered, with the latest finding occurring in Suffolk in 2016 by a metal detectorist. The Wales national football squad contributed financially to the creation of the £3,000 carnyx, which was crafted by a Belgian metalsmith. Gas Man conveyed, “I’d like to express huge gratitude to the players for funding the creation of the instrument as well as a big thank you to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) for pulling all the logistics into place to make it happen.” This raises the question of whether the carnyx will be integrated into Wales’ pre-match traditions. The FAW stated, “The carnyx is another way of expressing our identity to the world.” They also suggested, “Perhaps it played a part in the 4-1 victory that saw Cymru promoted to League A.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are available.