Gittern

Angel playing a gittern

Dusepo gittern

Gittern was a stringed musical instrument, popular in Europe during the late Middle Ages and into the Renaissance period. It is considered an ancestor of the modern guitar and shared similarities with other contemporary instruments like the lute, mandora, and vihuela. The gittern was typically played with a plectrum and had a rounded back, similar to the lute, but was smaller in size.

History

The origins of the gittern are somewhat obscure, but it is believed to have been widely used from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The instrument was known by various names in different cultures, such as "guiterna" in Spain, "guiterne" or "guiterre" in France, and "chitarra" in Italy. The gittern was a popular instrument among minstrels and was used in various social contexts, from courtly music performances to more informal settings.

Design and Construction

The gittern had a distinctive shape, with a body that was carved from a single piece of wood, leading to its classification as a monoxylous instrument. This construction method was different from that of the lute, which typically had a body made of staves. The gittern featured four courses of strings (with each course usually having two strings, though the number could vary), which were made of gut and plucked with a plectrum. The instrument's soundhole was often decorated with an intricately carved rosette.

Playing Technique and Repertoire

Players of the gittern employed various techniques, including strumming and plucking with a plectrum. The repertoire for the gittern included both vocal accompaniments and instrumental pieces. Music for the gittern was often written in tablature, a form of musical notation that specifies instrument fingering rather than musical pitches.

Decline and Legacy

By the end of the 15th century, the popularity of the gittern began to wane, overshadowed by the emerging popularity of the lute and other stringed instruments. However, the gittern's influence persisted, contributing to the development of the modern guitar. The transition from the gittern to more modern instruments involved changes in construction, tuning, and playing techniques, reflecting the evolving musical tastes and preferences of the time.

See Also

• Lute
• Mandora
• Vihuela
• Guitar
• Music of the Middle Ages
• Renaissance music