The crumhorn is a double reed instrument of the woodwind family, most commonly used during the Renaissance period. In modern times, particularly since the 1960s, there has been a revival of interest in early music, and crumhorns are being played again. It was also spelled krummhorn, krumhorn, krum horn,[1] and cremorne.[2]
Modern crumhorns with keys, alto crumhorn in F, bass crumhorn in FDouble-reed of an alto crumhorn in F
The name derives from the GermanKrumhorn (or Krummhorn or Krumporn) meaning bent horn. This relates to the old Englishcrumpet meaning curve, surviving in modern English in 'crumpled' and 'crumpet' (a curved cake). The similar-sounding French term cromorne, when used correctly, refers to a woodwind instrument of different design, though the term cromorne is often used in error synonymously with that of crumhorn.
It is uncertain if the Spanish wind instrument orlo (attested in an inventory of 1559) designates the crumhorn, but it is known that crumhorns were used in Spain in the sixteenth century, and the identification seems likely.[3]
Three Italian terms for the instrument, apart from the equivalent cromorno,[citation needed] are storto, cornamuto torto, and piva torta.[3]
DescriptionEdit
Two crumhorns, 5 & 6 from left.
The crumhorn is a capped reed instrument. Its construction is similar to that of the chanter of a bagpipe. A double reed is mounted inside a long windcap. Blowing through a slot in the windcap produces a musical note. The pitch of the note can be varied by opening or closing finger holes along the length of the pipe. One unusual feature of the crumhorn is its shape; the end is bent upwards in a curve resembling the letter 'J'. The curve is decorative only and does not influence the sound.[4]
Crumhorns make a strong buzzing sound, but quieter than their conical-bore relatives the rauschpfeife and shawm.[citation needed] They have a limited range, usually a ninth. While it is theoretically possible to get the reed to overblow a twelfth above the fundamental note, this is extremely difficult because the reed is not held in the mouth (and even if done would result in a gap of two notes in the scale on historical instruments), and in practice all playing is confined to the fundamental series. Some larger instruments have their range extended downwards by means of additional holes, keys and sliders, and the pitch of the instrument can be lowered a perfect fifth by dropping the breath pressure (called "underblowing"). Some modern instruments have their range extended upwards to an eleventh by two keys. Crumhorns can be chromatically played by using cross-fingerings, except for the minor second above the lowest note.
Different sizesEdit
Because of the limited range, music for crumhorns is usually played by a group of instruments of different sizes and hence at different pitches. Such a group is known as a consort of crumhorns. Crumhorns are built in imitation of the vocal quartet with soprano, alto, tenor and bass as a family, as was true of most instruments of the Renaissance. There are examples of higher- and lower-sounding instruments, of which the great bass is the only commonly used one. Modern instruments are pitched in C and F (Renaissance altos were usually pitched in g, continuing the distance of a fifth between sizes):
There are some pieces specifying crumhorns in two manuscript sets of partbooks prepared for the Prussian court band, including an anonymous setting of "D’Andernach auff dem Reine". Johann Hermann Schein included a Padouana für 4 Krummhörner for crumhorns in his collection Banchetto Musicale (1617), and Thomas Stoltzer wrote in a letter that he had composed his setting of Psalm 37, '"Erzürne dich nicht" (1526), such that the lower six of the seven parts could be played on crumhorns.[3]Michael Praetorius suggested the use of crumhorns in some of his sacred vocal works as a possible alternative to trombones, dulcians and other instruments.[citation needed]
In Ursula Dubosarsky's novel Bruno and the Crumhorn, two children, Bruno and Sybil, find themselves learning to play the crumhorn almost by accident.[5]
^. Archived from the original on 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^. Recorderhomepage.net. Archived from the original on 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
SourcesEdit
Boydell, Barra R. 2001. "Crumhorn". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.
Further readingEdit
Boydell, Barra. 1982. The Crumhorn and Other Renaissance Windcap Instruments: A Contribution to Renaissance Organology. Buren, The Netherlands: Frits Knuf ISBN9789060274248 (cloth); ISBN9789060274231 (wrappers).
Hantelmann, Georg-Wilhelm von. 1975. Spielanleitung für Krümmhorner, Cornamusen und Kortholte / How to Play the Crumhorn, Cornamusa and Curtall. Celle: Moeck.
Hunt, Edgar. 1975. The Crumhorn: A Concise Method for the Crumhorn and Other Wind-cap Instruments. [Mainz]: Schott. ISBN9780901938527.
Meyer, Kenton Terry. 1983. The Crumhorn: Its History, Design, Repertory, and Technique. Studies in Musicology 66. Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press. ISBN9780835714068.
Giorgio Mainerio, "L'arboscello Ballo Furlano" (MP3 Music file) hosted by external site MILLA Crumhorns by Stefan Beck. Direct link to this file is not provided as license grants private but not commercial use.
October 14, 2023
crumhorn, municipality, lower, saxony, germany, krummhörn, confused, with, cromorne, crumhorn, double, reed, instrument, woodwind, family, most, commonly, used, during, renaissance, period, modern, times, particularly, since, 1960s, there, been, revival, inter. For the municipality in Lower Saxony Germany see Krummhorn Not to be confused with Cromorne The crumhorn is a double reed instrument of the woodwind family most commonly used during the Renaissance period In modern times particularly since the 1960s there has been a revival of interest in early music and crumhorns are being played again It was also spelled krummhorn krumhorn krum horn 1 and cremorne 2 Modern crumhorns with keys alto crumhorn in F bass crumhorn in FDouble reed of an alto crumhorn in F Contents 1 Terminology 2 Description 3 Different sizes 4 Literature for crumhorn 5 References 5 1 Sources 6 Further reading 7 External links 7 1 MediaTerminology EditThe name derives from the German Krumhorn or Krummhorn or Krumporn meaning bent horn This relates to the old English crumpet meaning curve surviving in modern English in crumpled and crumpet a curved cake The similar sounding French term cromorne when used correctly refers to a woodwind instrument of different design though the term cromorne is often used in error synonymously with that of crumhorn It is uncertain if the Spanish wind instrument orlo attested in an inventory of 1559 designates the crumhorn but it is known that crumhorns were used in Spain in the sixteenth century and the identification seems likely 3 Three Italian terms for the instrument apart from the equivalent cromorno citation needed are storto cornamuto torto and piva torta 3 Description Edit nbsp Two crumhorns 5 amp 6 from left The crumhorn is a capped reed instrument Its construction is similar to that of the chanter of a bagpipe A double reed is mounted inside a long windcap Blowing through a slot in the windcap produces a musical note The pitch of the note can be varied by opening or closing finger holes along the length of the pipe One unusual feature of the crumhorn is its shape the end is bent upwards in a curve resembling the letter J The curve is decorative only and does not influence the sound 4 Crumhorns make a strong buzzing sound but quieter than their conical bore relatives the rauschpfeife and shawm citation needed They have a limited range usually a ninth While it is theoretically possible to get the reed to overblow a twelfth above the fundamental note this is extremely difficult because the reed is not held in the mouth and even if done would result in a gap of two notes in the scale on historical instruments and in practice all playing is confined to the fundamental series Some larger instruments have their range extended downwards by means of additional holes keys and sliders and the pitch of the instrument can be lowered a perfect fifth by dropping the breath pressure called underblowing Some modern instruments have their range extended upwards to an eleventh by two keys Crumhorns can be chromatically played by using cross fingerings except for the minor second above the lowest note Different sizes EditBecause of the limited range music for crumhorns is usually played by a group of instruments of different sizes and hence at different pitches Such a group is known as a consort of crumhorns Crumhorns are built in imitation of the vocal quartet with soprano alto tenor and bass as a family as was true of most instruments of the Renaissance There are examples of higher and lower sounding instruments of which the great bass is the only commonly used one Modern instruments are pitched in C and F Renaissance altos were usually pitched in g continuing the distance of a fifth between sizes Size Scale range in Helmholtz pitch notation modern crumhorn in parentheses Scale range in scientific pitch notation modern crumhorn in parentheses Soprano c1 d1 e2 f2 C4 D4 E5 F5 Alto f0 g0 a1 b 1 F3 G3 A4 B 4 Tenor c0 d1 f1 C3 D4 F4 Extended tenor G d1 G2 D4Bass F g0 b 0 F2 G3 B 3 Extended bass C g0 C2 G3Great Bass B c0 e 0 or C d0 f0 B 1 C3 E 3 or C2 D3 F3 Extended great bass G d0 G1 D3Literature for crumhorn EditThere are some pieces specifying crumhorns in two manuscript sets of partbooks prepared for the Prussian court band including an anonymous setting of D Andernach auff dem Reine Johann Hermann Schein included a Padouana fur 4 Krummhorner for crumhorns in his collection Banchetto Musicale 1617 and Thomas Stoltzer wrote in a letter that he had composed his setting of Psalm 37 Erzurne dich nicht 1526 such that the lower six of the seven parts could be played on crumhorns 3 Michael Praetorius suggested the use of crumhorns in some of his sacred vocal works as a possible alternative to trombones dulcians and other instruments citation needed In Ursula Dubosarsky s novel Bruno and the Crumhorn two children Bruno and Sybil find themselves learning to play the crumhorn almost by accident 5 References Edit krummhorn Oxford English Dictionary Online ed Oxford University Press Subscription or participating institution membership required Cremorne definition and meaning Collins English Dictionary www collinsdictionary com Retrieved 2020 03 09 a b c Boydell 2001 The Crumhorn Archived from the original on 2018 01 13 Retrieved 2017 01 24 Crumhorn Home Page Recorderhomepage net Archived from the original on 2012 07 04 Retrieved 2012 07 03 Sources Edit Boydell Barra R 2001 Crumhorn The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians second edition edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell London Macmillan Publishers Further reading EditBoydell Barra 1982 The Crumhorn and Other Renaissance Windcap Instruments A Contribution to Renaissance Organology Buren The Netherlands Frits Knuf ISBN 9789060274248 cloth ISBN 9789060274231 wrappers Hantelmann Georg Wilhelm von 1975 Spielanleitung fur Krummhorner Cornamusen und Kortholte How to Play the Crumhorn Cornamusa and Curtall Celle Moeck Hunt Edgar 1975 The Crumhorn A Concise Method for the Crumhorn and Other Wind cap Instruments Mainz Schott ISBN 9780901938527 Meyer Kenton Terry 1983 The Crumhorn Its History Design Repertory and Technique Studies in Musicology 66 Ann Arbor UMI Research Press ISBN 9780835714068 External links Edit nbsp Classical music portalCrumhorn Musica Antiqua Crumhorn Page Crumhorns by Moeck Renaissance Studio permanent dead link Mahillon Victor Charles Schlesinger Kathleen 1911 Cromorne Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Krumhorn New International Encyclopedia 1905 Media Edit Giorgio Mainerio L arboscello Ballo Furlano MP3 Music file hosted by external site MILLA Crumhorns by Stefan Beck Direct link to this file is not provided as license grants private but not commercial use Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crumhorn amp oldid 1177045122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
