The gittern was a relatively small gut-strung, round-backed instrument that first appeared in literature and pictorial representation during the 13th century in Western Europe (Iberian Peninsula, Italy, France, England).

Gittern, either of two medieval stringed musical instruments, the guitarra latina and the guitarra morisca. The latter was also known as the guitarra saracenica.

Jul 14, 2015 · The 14th century French poet, Eustache Deschamps, gives evidence of the gittern’s rise in popularity, writing that “at royal courts everyone wants to play the trumpet, gittern, and rebebe.” (The rebebe was a bowed instrument – more information here under the heading, Origins: the rebab?)

We are fortunate that one late-14th- or early-15th-century gittern survives in miraculous condition in the Wartburg Stiftung in Eisenach, Germany. This specimen shows fine workmanship, belying any modern misconceptions about crude medieval craftsmanship.

The meaning of GITTERN is a medieval guitar.

Jan 29, 2025 · GITTERN meaning: 1. an early musical instrument from the Middle Ages with a round back, a flat front, a neck, and…. Learn more.

Apr 4, 2025 · gittern (plural gitterns) A small, quill - plucked, gut - strung musical instrument, most commonly with three to four strings in doubles courses; it is a flat-backed predecessor of the guitar, and it originated around the 13th century, coming to Europe via Moorish Spain.

I also discuss how the symbolism changed along with changes in use, and I explore musical implications in the sources, specifically examining what types of music were played, how was the sound of the gittern perceived, and what the musical …

The gittern, a type of medieval stringed instrument, holds a unique place in the realm of historical musical instruments. Known for its distinctive characteristics and construction, the gittern …

The gittern’s characteristics, from its portability and versatility to its clear tone and accessibility, contributed to its enduring legacy as a vital instrument in the musical landscape of medieval and Renaissance Europe.