The Mandolin & Cittern Source

The Mandolin & Cittern Source



The Bell Cittern or Cithrinchen



Surviving instrument by Joachim Tielke, made in Germany, approximately 1700.
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.




Details: 5 course cithrinchen.
Made by: Instrumentenbau Kilian, Germany.



Details: 5 course cithrinchen.
Made by: Donald Gill, Britain.



Details: 6 course cithrinchen with machine heads.
Made by: Paul Hathaway, Britain.