The Mandolin & Cittern Source

The Mandolin & Cittern Source



The Cittern



Painting 'Woman with cittern', by Pieter Cornelisz van Slingelandt, Netherlands, 1677.
The cittern (also called cithren, cistre, cetra, cister, cistro, cedra, citola) was a stringed instrument dating from the Renaissance. Modern scholars debate its exact history, but it is generally accepted that it is descended from the medieval citole. It was strung lightly with metal strings and had fixed metal frets. It had a tapered body becoming thinner towards the end



Details: 4 course, 9 course chromatic cittern.
Made by: Daniel Betsill, USA.


Details: 4 course, 8 string diatonic cittern.
Made by: Jo Dusepo, Britain.


Details: 4 course, 9 course chromatic cittern.
Made by: Bruce Brook, Britain.


Details: 4 course, 9 string diatonic cittern.
Made by: Sebastien Nunez, Netherlands.