How the Cithrinchen makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the Cithrinchen belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The Cithrinchen or Bell cittern was a distinctively shaped instrument of the renaissance and baroque periods. It was usually strung with doubled courses of thin, light tension brass or steel strings. It usually had 3 soundholes (with decorative roses) and 5 (or sometimes 6 or more) courses (pairs) of strings. It was popular in Germany, England and Sweden.
Most such instruments built nowadays are reconstructions of historical instruments, or modern mandolin-type instruments which simply use the same body shape as the historical Cithrinchen.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does the Cithrinchen sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the Cithrinchen?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.32).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q25451376 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Cithrinchen – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Jo Dusepo – CC BY-SA 4.0