Sordino

The Sordun, is a woodwind instrument of the Renaissance. The tone is produced by a single dual reed, which is connected through a bent pipe with the brass instrument body. The instrument has two parallel cylindrical bores which are drilled in a piece of wood, and connected at its lower end by a bow. Characterized the length of the acoustic pipe is twice as long as the external dimensions of the instrument. For the smaller instruments, the end of the sound tube is closed. The air exits through a side hole.

The term Sordun goes back to Italian sordone that is derived from sordo "quiet". So that is the soft sound is called that is less rich in overtones than in rankett. Lodovico Zacconi compares in its Prattica di musica ( 1592) the sound with that of Cornamusen. Unlike the wind-cap instruments, however, the Sordun about blowing into the twelfth. 12 by a tone scale finger holes can be formed, which connects the lower and on blown register. This finger holes are covered with all ten fingers, and with the center links of both index fingers. A button at the bottom is for draining the moisture.

Like other Renaissance instruments form the Sordune for different vocal registers an instrument family. Michael Praetorius Syntagma Musicum describes in his (Vol. 2, 1619) five sizes: Cant (B2 - G4), tenor / alto ( Es2 - C4 ), G -Bass (C2 - A3 ), F -Bass (B1 - G3) and great bass (F1 - D3).

Only four instruments of a set are preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. They are listed in an inventory list from 1596. Unlike the instruments described by Praetorius is the mouthpiece attached to the side with them. The sound tube is extended to a shortened third hole, and the instruments have six tabs, which are covered by protective sleeves. There are two bass (B1 - A3 ) and two large bass instruments (E1 - D3).

The terminology is not always clear: Marin Mersenne describes in his universal harmony ( 1635) an instrument that corresponds to the Sordun, but in which six finger holes are provided with protruding sleeves to facilitate gripping. Mersenne calls this instrument courtaut, ie Kortholt. Otherwise, however Kortholt denotes a form of instrument with wind capsule. For a instrument Praetorius Dulzian-/Fagottfamilie is called " bass Sordun ".