Curtal

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The Curtal is a double-reed instrument
similar in range to your bassoon. However, the conical tube of
the curtal is hollowed out of a single piece of wood and is not
jointed. The long, flat billet of maple, pear, box, etc, is bored
from the bottom upwards along one side, and from the top downwards,
for the wider part of the conical windway, on the other side.
The two bores are connected at the bottom by a cut-away chamber
closed by a plug of wood. The brass crook on which the double
reed is placed is inserted into the narrower bore. The wider
bore ends a short flare.
- Although it is not known for sure where it
originated, most believe it an Italian product from the second
quarter of the sixteenth century. But it soon spread as far as
England by the last quarter of the century.
(Photos courtesy of Jonathan M. Askey at website The
London Early Music Shop - see credits)
References:
Baines, Anthony. European & American Musical Instruments.
Viking Press, New York, 1966.
-
- Buchner, Dr. Alexander (translated by Iris
Urwin). Musical Instruments Through the Ages. Batchworth
Press Limited, London, England, 1961.
-
- Hindley, Geoffrey (ed.). The Larousse
Encyclopedia of Music. Excalibur Books, New York, 1982.
Authors: The VirRen Team led by C.S.Marszalek & B.Panagakis
Created: 8 August 1996; Modified: 23 August 2004