Traversac Roger's Page

About the Toppel Cythar. This is really a question for the cittern group. The answer is nobody at present, although some people seem to be thinking about it! Kargel's other book for the Renovata Cythar is being used because there are other books and some instruments to base constructions on. The Toppel Cythar seems to have been popular at the time - there were 4? editions of the book which was not cheap. There are no instruments to copy, or paintings from this date. The same or a similar instrument is depicted by Cornelis Bega in "The Cittern Player" 1662 - I've got it on my computer but don't know how to attach it. Kargel describes it as "lautengemasse" - lute-like, because it has six courses with the top course single, and a lute-shaped body. Another painting suggests that it may also sometimes have a tied bridge. The "Toppel" description comes from the tuning which uses three courses from each of two 4-course citterns - e', d', g, d, G, B .
Best wishes, Peter