View source for Crumhorn

{{short description|Double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family}}
{{For|the municipality in [[Lower Saxony]], [[Germany]]|Krummhörn}}
{{confuse|Cromorne}}
[[Image:Moderne Krummhoerner.jpg|thumb|300px|Modern crumhorns with keys, alto crumhorn in F, bass crumhorn in F]]
[[Image:Reed f-alto crumhorn.jpg|thumb|300px|Double-reed of an alto crumhorn in F]]
The '''crumhorn''' is a [[double reed |double reed instrument]] of the [[woodwind]] family, most commonly used during the [[Renaissance music|Renaissance]] period.  In modern times, particularly since the 1960s, there has been a revival of interest in [[early music]], and crumhorns are being played again. It was also spelled '''krummhorn''', '''krumhorn''', '''krum horn''',<ref>{{Cite OED|krummhorn}}</ref> and '''cremorne'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cremorne|title=Cremorne definition and meaning |website=Collins English Dictionary |language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}</ref>

==Terminology==
The name derives from the [[German language|German]] {{lang|de|Krumhorn}} (or {{lang|de|Krummhorn}} or {{lang|de|Krumporn}}) meaning 'bent horn'. The first part is cognate with the [[Middle English language|Middle English]] {{lang|enm|crumpen}} meaning 'to bend, fold, wrinkle', surviving in modern [[English language|English]] in ''crumpled'' and ''[[crumpet]]'' 'a wrinkled cake'.  The similar-sounding French term {{lang|fr|[[cromorne]]}}, when used correctly, refers to a woodwind instrument of different design, though the term {{lang|fr|cromorne}} is often used in error synonymously with that of crumhorn.

It is uncertain if the Spanish wind instrument {{lang|es|orlo}} (attested in an inventory of 1559) designates the crumhorn, but it is known that crumhorns were used in Spain in the 16th century, and the identification seems likely.<ref name="Boydell">Boydell 2001</ref>

Three Italian terms for the instrument, apart from the equivalent {{lang|it|cromorno}},{{Citation needed|date=August 2019|reason=Boydell does not mention this term}} are {{lang|it|storto}}, {{lang|it|cornamuto torto}}, and {{lang|it|piva torta}}.<ref name="Boydell" />

==Description==
[[File:Walraversijde95.jpg|thumb|Two crumhorns, 5 & 6 from left. ]]
The crumhorn is a ''capped reed'' instrument. Its construction is similar to that of the chanter of a [[bagpipes|bagpipe]]. A [[double reed]] is mounted inside a long windcap. Blowing through a slot in the windcap produces a musical note. The pitch of the note can be varied by opening or closing finger holes along the length of the pipe. One unusual feature of the crumhorn is its shape; the end is bent upwards in a curve resembling the letter 'J'. The curve is decorative only and does not influence the sound.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/crumhorn.htm |title=The Crumhorn |access-date=2017-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113105448/http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/crumhorn.htm |archive-date=2018-01-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Crumhorns make a strong buzzing sound, but quieter than their conical-bore relatives the [[rauschpfeife]] and [[shawm]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}<!--Boydell, in the New Grove article, says crumhorns were commonly played together with sackbuts, and are shown in the Triumphzug Maximilians playing together with shawms, concluding that "crumhorns had a much stronger sound than is often thought"; he stops short of saying how strong, however, and clearly believes somebody "often thinks" they are softer--but who?--> They have a limited range, usually a ninth. While it is theoretically possible to get the reed to overblow a twelfth above the fundamental note, this is extremely difficult because the reed is not held in the mouth (and even if done would result in a gap of two notes in the scale on historical instruments), and in practice all playing is confined to the fundamental series. Some larger instruments have their range extended downwards by means of additional holes, keys and sliders, and the pitch of the instrument can be lowered a perfect fourth by dropping the breath pressure (called "underblowing"). Some modern instruments have their range extended upwards to an eleventh by two keys. Crumhorns can be chromatically played by using cross-fingerings, except for the minor second above the lowest note.

==Different sizes==
Because of the limited range, music for crumhorns is usually played by a group of instruments of different sizes and hence at different pitches.  Such a group is known as a [[consort of instruments|consort]] of crumhorns. Crumhorns are built in imitation of the vocal quartet with soprano, alto, tenor and bass as a family, as was true of most instruments of the Renaissance. There are examples of higher- and lower-sounding instruments, of which the great bass is the only commonly used one. Modern instruments are pitched in C and F (Renaissance altos were usually pitched in g, continuing the distance of a fifth between sizes):

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:left;" 
! Size
! Scale range in [[Helmholtz pitch notation]]<br/>(modern crumhorn in parentheses)
! Scale range in [[scientific pitch notation]]<br/>(modern crumhorn in parentheses)
|-
| Soprano || (c<sup>1</sup>) d<sup>1</sup>–e<sup>2</sup> (f<sup>2</sup>)
|(C<sub>4</sub>) D<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>5</sub> (F<sub>5</sub>)
|-
| Alto || (f<sup>0</sup>) g<sup>0</sup>–a<sup>1</sup> (b{{Music|flat}}<sup>1</sup>)
|(F<sub>3</sub>) G<sub>3</sub>–A<sub>4</sub> (B{{Music|flat}}<sub>4</sub>)
|-
| Tenor || c<sup>0</sup>–d<sup>1</sup> (f<sup>1</sup>) or B{{flat}}-c<sup>1</sup> (e{{flat}}<sup>1</sup>)
|C<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub> (F<sub>4</sub>) or B{{flat}}<sub>2</sub>-C<sub>4</sub> (E{{flat}}<sub>4</sub>)
|-
| Extended tenor || G–f<sup>1</sup> or F-e{{flat}}<sup>1</sup>
|G<sub>2</sub>–F<sub>4</sub> or F<sub>2</sub>–E{{flat}}<sub>4</sub>
|-
| Bass || F–g<sup>0</sup> (b{{Music|flat}}<sup>0</sup>)
|F<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>3</sub> (B{{Music|flat}}<sub>3</sub>)
|-
| Extended bass || C–b{{Music|flat}}<sup> 0</sup>
|C<sub>2</sub>–B{{Music|flat}}<sub>3</sub>
|-
| Great Bass || B{{Music|flat}},–c<sup>0</sup> (e{{Music|flat}}<sup>0</sup>) or C–d<sup>0</sup> (f<sup>0</sup>)
|B{{Music|flat}}<sub>1</sub>–C<sub>3</sub> (E{{Music|flat}}<sub>3</sub>) or C<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub> (F<sub>3</sub>)
|-
| Extended great bass || G,–f<sup>0</sup>
|G<sub>1</sub>–F<sub>3</sub>
|}

==Literature for crumhorn==
There are some pieces specifying crumhorns in two manuscript sets of partbooks prepared for the Prussian court band, including an anonymous setting of "[[Tandernaken|D’Andernach auff dem Reine]]". [[Johann Hermann Schein]] included a {{lang|de|Padouana für 4 Krummhörner}} for crumhorns in his collection {{lang|it|Banchetto Musicale}} (1617), and [[Thomas Stoltzer]] wrote in a letter that he had composed his setting of Psalm 37, "{{lang|de|Erzürne dich nicht|italic=no}}" (1526), such that the lower six of the seven parts could be played on crumhorns.<ref name="Boydell" /> [[Michael Praetorius]] suggested the use of crumhorns in some of his sacred vocal works as a possible alternative to [[trombone]]s, [[dulcian]]s and other instruments.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}<!--Where did Praetorius say this?-->

In [[Ursula Dubosarsky]]'s novel ''Bruno and the Crumhorn'', two children, Bruno and Sybil, find themselves learning to play the crumhorn almost by accident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recorderhomepage.net/crumhorn.html |title=Crumhorn Home Page |publisher=Recorderhomepage.net |access-date=2012-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704100603/http://www.recorderhomepage.net/crumhorn.html |archive-date=2012-07-04 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* Boydell, Barra R. 2001. "Crumhorn". ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', second edition, edited by [[Stanley Sadie]] and [[John Tyrrell (musicologist)|John Tyrrell]]. London: Macmillan Publishers.

==Further reading==
* Boydell, Barra. 1982. ''The Crumhorn and Other Renaissance Windcap Instruments: A Contribution to Renaissance Organology''. Buren, The Netherlands: Frits Knuf {{ISBN|9789060274248}} (cloth); {{ISBN|9789060274231}} (wrappers).
*Hantelmann, Georg-Wilhelm von. 1975. {{lang|de|Spielanleitung für Krümmhorner, Cornamusen und Kortholte}} / [''How to Play the Crumhorn, Cornamusa and Curtall'']. Celle: Moeck.
*Hunt, Edgar. 1975. ''The Crumhorn: A Concise Method for the Crumhorn and Other Wind-cap Instruments''. [Mainz]: Schott. {{ISBN|9780901938527}}.
* Meyer, Kenton Terry. 1983. ''The Crumhorn: Its History, Design, Repertory, and Technique''. Studies in Musicology 66. Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press. {{ISBN|9780835714068}}.

==External links==
{{Portal|Classical music}}
*[https://www.sackpfeyffer-zu-linden.de/crumhorn.html Crumhorn]
*[https://antiqua.music.iastate.edu/instrument/crumhorn Musica Antiqua Crumhorn Page]
*[http://www.moeck.com/pages.php?pid=201 Crumhorns by Moeck Renaissance Studio]{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{Cite EB1911 |last=Mahillon |first=Victor-Charles |author-link=Victor-Charles Mahillon |last2=Schlesinger |first2=Kathleen |wstitle=Cromorne   |short=x}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Krumhorn|year=1905 |short=x}}

===Media===
*[[Giorgio Mainerio]], "{{lang|it|L'arboscello Ballo Furlano|italic=no}}" (MP3 music file) hosted by external site [http://www.musikhandwerk.de/UK/renaissance.html#KRUMMHOERNER MILLA Crumhorns by Stefan Beck]. Direct link to this file is not provided as license grants private but not commercial use.

{{Double reed}}
{{Medieval music}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Double-reed instruments]]
[[Category:Early musical instruments]]
[[Category:Renaissance instruments]]