To browse Academia. This research explores the historical significance and performance practices of the British Museum's citole, an early plucked string instrument. It examines the instrument's transformation over the centuries, particularly its conversion into a violin in the late 16th century, and its connections to notable historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley.
The investigation includes a detailed analysis of the citole's iconography, its journey through time, and the implications of its design and modifications in relation to musical practices of the Middle Ages. Popular literature provides important sources for understanding the cultural context in which luxury objects were regarded in early eighteenth century England.
In this case the 'Ballad Upon a Gentleman's Sitting upon the Lady Weymouth's Cremona Fiddle' published in , demonstrates how embedded ideas surrounding the value of these luxury objects had become within the broad ballad singing public.
If you have a question relating to the content of this paper, or an enquiry about an instrument you either have or are looking for, please email me at: b e n j a m i n. Term used in Italy since the early 19th century for various bass and double bass lip-reed aerophones. The instrument is peculiar to Italy, differing from the French basson russe in both bell shape and in the arrangement of keys.
Produced by makers such as Magazari, Piana and Papalini, the wooden cimbasso replaced the serpent as the lowest member of the brass family in about , making its first appearance at La Scala where it was noticed by Spohr. Paganini was perhaps the first composer to adopt the instrument, in his Violin Concerto no. It cannot be stated with certainty that these parts were always played on a true cimbasso; where the instrument was unavailable, the part could have been played on a keyed ophicleide, an instrument known to have been in use at this time despite its absence from contemporary Italian scores.
