cittern

The cittern is a plucked string instrument of the lute family, developed in Renaissance Europe. It typically has a flat-backed, pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and metal strings arranged in courses. It is played with the fingers or a plectrum, offering a bright, ringing tone for chords and melodies.

The cittern appeared in the 16th century, especially in Italy and central Europe, and is related to the citole and gittern. In Renaissance and early Baroque music it was used for vocal accompaniment and polyphonic instrumental writing; players often strummed or picked to supply chords. It remained common into the 17th century but declined in the 18th as guitar and lute designs dominated. The instrument was revived in the 19th–20th centuries by early-music makers, giving rise to related forms such as the mandora and bandora.

Construction and variants: Traditional citterns usually have four courses of strings (often paired), for about eight strings; late Baroque forms sometimes had five or six courses. The body is shallow with a carved top and sound holes; necks are fretted with a flat fingerboard. Modern revival instruments come in various configurations, including six single strings or six courses, often with guitar-like scale lengths.

Tuning, technique, and repertoire: Tunings varied by maker and period; players typically used picking or light finger-plucking to accompany songs or dances. Repertoire spans Renaissance chansons, dances, and Baroque arrangements for cittern and related instruments. The cittern remains of interest to early-music scholars and performers seeking historical timbres.