Crumhorn

What it means

The crumhorn is a Renaissance woodwind instrument with a cylindrical bore, curved upward like a hook at the lower end — hence the name. Its double reed sits inside a windcap, which the player encloses with the lips without touching the reed. As a result the reed always vibrates the same way, and the volume can hardly be varied. The sound is nasal, buzzing, and rich in overtones, yet surprisingly penetrating. As is usual for Renaissance instruments, it is built in families from descant to bass.

Musical use

Crumhorns were preferably played in a closed consort, that is, several sizes together, so that a uniform, compact ensemble sound results; this practice shapes the sixteenth-century music for such instruments. The range is narrow, usually little more than a ninth, because windcap instruments cannot be overblown — the part-writing takes this into account and moves within close positions. Today crumhorns sound in early-music ensembles and in music education. What distinguishes them from the cornamuse above all is the curved shape and the more forceful, sharper sound.

Performance practice

Watch for a steady, calm air pressure, for it alone decides response and intonation; without lip contact with the reed nothing can be corrected. Articulate clearly with the tongue, because dynamics largely fail as a means of shaping and phrasing arises through articulation and time instead. Moisten the reed before playing and let the cap dry open afterward. In ensemble, the pitch standard is to be clarified in advance, since historical instruments and reproductions are tuned differently. Keep the range in view when assigning parts — shifting to another octave is not possible.

Bear in mind that the narrow range determines the assignment of parts: a melody that leaves its range cannot be played on this instrument, and a change of octave does not help. Check before rehearsal, therefore, whether the intended parts lie within range, and swap sizes if necessary. In a consort of like instruments the sound arises from the agreement of the attack; start together and end together. Let the caps dry open after playing and check the reeds regularly.