Racket

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The racket made its appearance during the last quarter of the sixteenth century. It takes it name from the German word for rocket, "Raquete", because of its shape. The racket contains a number of short parallel bores connected in series to make up a total windway of a metre or more, providing a deep tone in a compact case. Fingerholes are bored into each side of the cylinder so that they can be manipulated by two hands held level with each other. At the top, a metal tube carries a bassoon-like double reed partially enclosed by an ivory pirouette.


(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.

Haas, Karl. Inside Music: How to understand, listen to, and enjoy good music. Doubleday, New York, 1984. ISBN: 0-385-18536-7

Hindley, Geoffrey (ed.). The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music. Excalibur Books, New York, 1982.