The Cittern
The Cittern, a Renaissance instrument that may be a
descendent of the citole, is equipped with metal strings.
It was considered an instrument fit for rustics, such as
cobblers and tailors. The Citole and Gittern are two
plucked string instruments with rounded pear shape and
four or five strings are illustrated in the late
thirteenth century Cantigas de Santa Maria manuscript
belonging to King Alfonso X "The Wise" of
Castile. The neck is fretted, the strings are gut and are
often played with a plectrum. Their tuning may have been
similar to t that of medieval lutes (c f a d'). It was
frequently used for singing and dancing and is often
pictured with the medieval fiddle.
The Shawm
A double-reed wind instrument (predecessor of the modern
oboe) with expanding bell, made of wood and possibly
derived from the Middle-Eastern surna. The shawm had a
piercing sound that was said to have terrified the
crusaders. It was often paired with trumpets and drums
and played by professional musicians for ceremonial
occasions, outdoors or in large halls. In all varieties
of the instrument the reed was fixed onto a disc, made of
wood or metal.
The Recorder
This wind instrument, also known as a duct flute, may
have developed from more primitive pipes with five or six
holes and no thumb hole. The medieval recorder had a rear
thumb hole and seven fingerholes in front, a wide
cylindrical bore that produced a mellow sound that
blended well in ensembles. Recorders had two holes for
the little finger, allowing for right- or left-handed
players. The unused hole was then plugged with wax. By
the 15th century the recorder was made in different sizes
for consort playing and by the 17th century, the recorder
was made in three sections with a narrower bore and more
piercing sound than the earlier instrument.
