Musica Viva: Encyclopedia: Renaissance cittern

Renaissance cittern

 
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Key data

Main category:Instrument
Instrument code:renctn
Language:En main
Secondary key phrases:Renessansesister (No main)

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Although the medieval cittern went through a number of small changes through the years, the cittern of the early renaissance was still remarkably similar to the earliest known citterns.

Through the 16th century two significant changes took place: the neck got longer and the diatonic frets were gradually replaced by chromatic ones. Towards the end of the century it had evolved into the classic instrument we usually call a "reniassance cittern" today. This style of cittern remained popular in some parts of Europe throughout the 18th century and well into the 19th, so the term "renaissance cittern" migt be a bit misleading. However, it is a convenient label to separate it from its younger relatives.

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Technical data

No. of strings9 (in 4 courses)

String/course configuration (top course first):

  1. 2
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 2
Scale length452 mm

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Tunings

NamePitchesCommentsString gaugesLinks

Standard

Italianb/b g/g'/g d'/d' e'/e'Probably the tuning most associated with the instrument today.
      Frencha/a g/g'/g d'/d' e'/e'Fourth course one note lower than in Italian tuning. Most continental cittern composers seem to have used this tuning.

          Common

          Bergmann tuningg b d' g'Strings tuned in a G major chord.
            The Bergmann ("miner") tuning was used in Thüringen from the 1700s and onwards. At first the instrument was all but identical to the old renaissance cittern, later it got more bass strings and evolved into the Thüringer zither and eventually the Waldzither.

              Other

              German baroqued' g b e'A tuning known from 1660, Thüringen, Germany. I'm not sure whether there were any octave strings. This tuning seems to have been the foundation of the Thüringische zither. Note the similarities both with the English tuning and with regular moder guitar tuning.

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