At 01:49 AM 10/16/2006, you wrote: > > Could it be a very high treble cittern? > >Probably not. Keep in mind that is a 1/12 scale model. I did some rough >guesstimates based on that size comparasion matchstick in one of the >pictures and the model seems to be based on a fairly standard size >renaissance cittern.
Given that it is probably 1/12 scale, that *would* make it an extremely high treble cittern -- approximately 3 1/2 octaves above a standard cittern. :-) Seriously, Ron correctly identified that the model is based on the Virchi instrument. BTW, this is not the first miniature model of a cittern. In his dissertation, Waldbauer mentions a reference to a miniature cittern from the 16th or early 17th century. Supposedly it was about 4 inches long and had only 3 pegs (because of the limits on size), but otherwise is a model of the older, carved Italian instruments. I don't know if it still survives. If people are interested, I will try to find the exact reference tonight and post it to the list. -A: To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
