The cornettino (plural cornettini) is the

descant A descant, discant, or is any of several different things in music, depending on the period in question; etymologically, the word means a voice (''cantus'') above or removed from others. The Harvard Dictionary of Music states: A descant is a ...

instrument of the

cornett The cornett, cornetto, or zink is an early wind instrument that dates from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, popular from 1500 to 1650. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused wi ...

o family. Cornettini usually have a primary scale of C or D major, with middle C or the adjacent D the pedal note of the instrument. The regular

is the 'treble' instrument of the family.

Construction

Like the cornetto, the cornettino was originally made from two pieces of wood, carved out and glued together. The instrument was covered in leather or parchment to prevent leaks and improve the grip for the player. Some instruments were made from ivory and these instruments were, accordingly, not covered in leather. The mouthpieces were made from animal horn, bone or ivory. Some instruments featured metal mountings at one or both ends of the instrument; these mountings help prevent the fraying of the leather or parchment and were decorative. Silver and gold were used for these mountings. Some modern instruments are made from a plastic such as ABS resin.

History

Cornettini were common in the high

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

and the

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

musical periods. They were featured extensively in Northern European music and ignored almost entirely by Southern European composers, except those who migrated north. In the time of

Michael Praetorius Michael Praetorius (probably 28 September 1571 – 15 February 1621) was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of musical forms ba ...

, the cornettino seems to have sometimes been used in sacred vocal music to play in unison with voices (especially tenors) an octave higher. Later in the 17th century, Northern European composers frequently used cornettini in large scale Masses, cantatas and other sacred music. The cornettino was favoured by the Stadtpfeiffen and composers like Johann Caspar Horn and Matthias Spiegler wrote a significant quantity of consort music featuring one to three cornettini. It appears that the cornettino continued to be used, primarily in church music and in Stadtpfeiffer bands, in some places in Europe until the late 18th century.

Georg Philipp Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hildesh ...

and

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

used the cornettino in several church cantatas.

Tessitura

The

tessitura In music, tessitura (, pl. ''tessiture'', "texture"; ) is the most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a given singer or less frequently, musical instrument, the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding (or character ...

or compass/range of the cornettino is c' (C4) to around g" (G6)'. A player with a strong embouchure may be able to coax higher notes from this instrument. (C4 is middle C.)

Pitch

Almost all surviving specimens of this instrument are pitched ''circa'' a' = 466 Hz or higher. Like organs, cornetts and trombones, the cornettino was regarded as primarily an ecclesiastical instrument and hence was constructed in Chor-ton (choir pitch) or Kornett-ton pitch. Pitch standards at the time varied widely.

Timbre

The timbre of the cornettino is more pungent, brighter and a little more incisive than that of the regular cornetto. Cornettini were frequently used in large consorts and orchestras in the company of trumpets and high violin parts. The timbre of the instrument seems to have been regarded by 17th century Northern European composers as very agreeable juxtaposed the natural trumpets of the time which featured a conical bell and a much more "oboe-like" sound and the violins pitched at a' = 466 Hz. The second and third octaves of the cornettino can be made to sound piercing. The primary/fundamental octave has an agreeable "reedy" quality, which is reminiscent of the later oboe.

Variants

A small number (three: one in

Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...

; two in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

) of mute cornettini (''id est''

mute cornetti) have survived and these instruments are straight, like their treble and alto counterparts, with an integral mouthpiece. No extant music for the mute cornettino has yet come to light and the function of this instrument remains obscure. The surviving score of the large scale

madrigal A madrigal is a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance (15th–16th c.) and early Baroque (1600–1750) periods, although revisited by some later European composers. The polyphonic madrigal is unaccompanied, and the number o ...

, Udite chiari e generosi figli à 16 voci, by

Giovanni Gabrieli Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554/1557 – 12 August 1612) was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School, at the time of the shift f ...

, requires a ''cornetto muto'' on the cantus line of Choro I. Since this part requires the instrument to play up to a", a mute cornettino may have been intended by the composer - certainly this part would be readily playable on such an instrument, although, the tessitura of the part is well within the compass of a regular mute cornett in G or F.

Repertoire

Some composers who specified the use of the cornettino in their scores include:

Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as one of the most important composers of the 17th century. He ...

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c. 1620–1623between 29 February and 20 March 1680) was an Austrian composer and violinist of the middle Baroque era. Almost nothing is known about his early years, but he seems to have arrived in Vienna during the 1630 ...

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (baptism, bapt. 12 August 1644, Stráž pod Ralskem – 3 May 1704, Salzburg) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist. Biber worked in Graz and Kroměříž before he illegally left his employer, Prince-Bishop ...

Matthias Weckmann Matthias Weckmann (''Weckman'') (''c''.1616 24 February 1674) was a German musician and composer of the Baroque period. He was born in Niederdorla (Thuringia) and died in Hamburg. Life His musical training took place in Dresden (as a chorister a ...

Antonio Bertali Antonio Bertali (March 1605–17 April 1669) was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era. He was born in Verona and received early music education there from Stefano Bernardi. Probably from 1624, he was employed as court music ...

, Johann Caspar Horn, Johann Erasmus Kindermann, Matthias Spiegler,

Johann Vierdanck Johann Vierdanck (also ''Virdanck, Vyrdanck, Feyertagk, Feyerdank, Fierdanck''; ca. 1605–1646) was a German violinist, cornettist, and composer of the Baroque period. Life Vierdanck was born near Dresden. In 1615 he joined the court chapel ...

and

. A small selection of extant works featuring the cornettino: *

Sonata Sancti Leopoldi à 14: 2 Violini, 2 Cornettini, 2 Clarini, 3 Violettae, Cornetto muto, 4 Tromboni, Organo. *

Kaspar Förster Kaspar Förster (also Caspar Foerster) (baptized 28 February 1616 in Danzig – 2 February 1673 in Oliva, near Danzig) was a German singer and composer. Förster studied music under his father Kaspar (1574-1652) and then under Marco Scacchi ...

Sonata a. 7. instrom: 2 Violini, 2 Cornettini,

Viola da braccio Viola da braccio (from Italian "arm viola", plural ''viole da braccio'') is a term variously applied during the baroque period to instruments of the violin family, in distinction to the viola da gamba ("leg viola") and the viol family to which the ...

, Fagotto, Violone, Basso continuo. *

Sonata XII a sette: 2 Cornettini, 2 Trombettae, 3 Tromboni, Organo. * Matthias Spiegler Canzon à 2: Cornettino, Fagotto, Organo. * Matthias Spiegler Canzon à 3: 2 Violini ô 2 Cornettini, Fagotto, Organo. * Matthias Spiegler Capriccio à 3: 2 Cornettini, Fagotto, Organo. *

Giovanni Valentini Giovanni Valentini (ca. 1582 – 29/30 April 1649) was an Italian Baroque composer, poet and keyboard virtuoso. Overshadowed by his contemporaries, Claudio Monteverdi and Heinrich Schütz, Valentini is practically forgotten today, although he occ ...

Sonata à 4: Violino, Cornettino, Trombone, Fagotto, Organo. *

Sonata à 4 0 sonatas with same scoring Cornettino, Violino, Trombone o Viola da braccio" in one sonata Fagotto o Bombard" in several Basso continuo. *

Crato Bütner Crato Bütner (Sonneberg, 1616—1679) was a German Baroque composer who was ''kantor'' and organist in Danzig (Polish: Gdańsk), first at the hospital church of St Salvator, then at Gdańsk's oldest church, St Catherine's. His collection of baroq ...

Deus in adjiutorium meum intende à 7, 12: SSATB ''in concerto'', SSATB ''in ripieno'' [composer suggests the ''ripieni'' may be replaced by 2 Cornetti & 3 Tromboni), 2 Violini, 2 Cornettini, 2 Viole, Viola basso, Bombard grosso. *

Siehe, es hat überwunden à 14,18: SSATTB ''in concerto'', SATB ''in ripieno'', 2 Violini, 2 Cornettini, 2 Trombettae, 3 Tromboni, Viola basso, Bombard grosso. * Samuel Friedrich Capricornus Der Herr ist mein Hirte: SSATTB, 2 Cornettini, 2 Violini, 4 Tromboni o 3 Viole e Fagotto, Basso continuo. * Maurizio Cazzati Deus in Adjutorium meum intende à 7 vel 12: Choir I SATTB; Choir II SATTB ''ripieno'', doubled by Cornetto, 4 Tromboni; 2 Violini, 2 Cornettini, Basso viola, Bombard basso, Fagotto, Organo. *

Johann Melchior Gletle Johann Melchior Gletle (July 1626 – 6 September 1683) was a Swiss organist, Kapellmeister and composer. Life Gletle was born in Bremgarten. He was a prolific composer of church music - masses, psalms, motets, and also several pieces for the tro ...

Expeditionis musicae classis II ... Op. II, 1668 ''39 Psalmi Breves'' All scored thus: SSATB ''concertato'', SSATB ''in cappella'', 2 Violini o 2 Cornettini, 2 Violae o 2 Tromboni, Fagotto o Trombone, Violone, Organo. *

Andreas Hammerschmidt Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611 or 1612 – 29 October 1675), the "Orpheus of Zittau," was a German Bohemian composer and organist of the early to middle Baroque era. He was one of the most significant and popular composers of sacred music in Ge ...

Freue dich, du Tochter Zion à 6: SSTB 2 Cornettini, Basso continuo. *

O, ihr lieben Hirten à 6: SATB, 2 Cornettini, Basso continuo. *

Was meinestu, wil aus dem Kindlein werden à 5: ATB, 2 Cornettini, Basso continuo. *

Gelobet sey der Herr à 4: AB, 2 Cornettini, Basso continuo. *

Warlich ich sage euch à 7: SSSTB, 2 Cornettini, Basso continuo. * Johann Caspar Horn Lasst uns aus spatzieren fahren: SS, 2 Cornettini, 2 Voilae, Fagotto, Basso continuo. *

Sebastian Knüpfer Sebastian Knüpfer (6 September 1633 – 10 October 1676) was a German composer, conductor and educator. He was the ''Thomaskantor'', cantor of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig and director of the towns's church music, from 1657 to 1676.''Grove Concise ...

Herr, ich habe lieb die Städte deines Hauses: ATB, 2 Cornettini, Trombone, Basso continuo. *

Ich Habe dich zum Licht der Heiden gemacht à 16: SATTB ''in concerto'', SATTB ''in cappella'', 2 Violini, 3 Viole, 2 Cornettini, 3 Tromboni, Fagotto, Organo. *

Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt à 17: SATB, SATB, SATB ''in ripieno'', 2 Violini, 3 Viole, 2 Trombettae, 2 Cornettini, Cornetto, 2 Tromboni, Fagotto, Organo. *

O benignissime Jesu à 6, 10: ATB ''concertato'', SATB ''ripieno'', 2 Violini o 2 Cornettini, Viola da Gamba o Bombard o Trombone, Organo. *

Super flumina Babylonis à 10, 15, 19: SATB ''in concerto'', SATB ''in cappella'', 2 Violini, 3 Viole, 2 Cornettini, 3 Tromboni, Fagotto, Organo, Basso continuo. *

Surgite, populi à 26, 34: SATB ''in concerto'', SATB ''in cappella'', SATB ''in concerto'', SATB ''in cappella'', 5 Trombettae, Timpani, 2 Cornettini, Cornetto muto, 3 Tromboni, 2 Violini, 3 Violae, Fagotto, Organo. *

Veni Sancte Spiritus à 20, 25, o 30: SSATB ''in concerto'', SSATB ''in ripieno'', 4 Trombettae, Timpani, 2 Cornettini, 3 Tromboni, 2 Violini, 2 Violae, Fagotto, 5 unspecified instruments ''ripieno'', Basso continuo. *

Christ lag in Todesbanden à 19: SSATB ''in concerto'', SSATB ''in cappella'', Cornettino, 3 Bombarden, Violino piccolo, Violino, 3 Violae, Basso continuo. * Johann Albrecht Kress In te Domine speravi: Alto, Cornettino, Basso continuo. Works by

and

Andreas Hofer Andreas Hofer (22 November 1767 – 20 February 1810) was a Tyrolean innkeeper and drover, who in 1809 became the leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against the Napoleonic and Bavarian invasion during the War of the Fifth Coalition. He was subse ...

specify the ''cornetto'' in a number of sacred compositions, but one may presume that such parts were intended to be played on ''cornettini'' on account of the tessitura of such parts. The

Missa Salisburgensis à 53 voci The Missa Salisburgensis à 53 voci is perhaps the largest-scale piece of extant sacred Baroque music, an archetypal work of the Colossal Baroque that is now universally accepted to be by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. The manuscript score of this Mas ...

is an example.

Nomenclature

The cornettino was also known as: ''Cornettin'' 'Cornettinen'' ''Kornettin'', ''Quart-Zink'', ''Klein Discant Zink'', ''Klein Diskant Zink'', ''Diskant Zink'', ''Krummer Diskant Zink'' and ''corñio'' (as in

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

chorale cantata A chorale cantata is a church cantata based on a chorale—in this context a Lutheran chorale. It is principally from the Germany, German Baroque music, Baroque era. The organizing principle is the words and music of a Lutheran hymn. Usually a chora ...

''Christum wir sollen loben schon'', BWV 121). The accepted English plurals of "cornettino" are "cornettini" and "cornettinos".

References

*''A Catalogue of Music for the Cornett'' by

Bruce Dickey Bruce Dickey is an American cornett player. He is regarded as the doyen of the modern generation of cornett players, many of whom were his students at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and Early Music Institute at Indiana University, or students of ...

and

Michael Collver Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

;

Indiana University Press Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes 140 ...

1996 *''Woodwind Instruments and their History'' by

Anthony Baines Anthony Cuthbert Baines (1912–1997) was an English organologist who produced a wide variety of works on the history of musical instruments, and was a founding member of the Galpin Society. He attended Westminster School and then read for a deg ...

Faber and Faber Limited Faber and Faber Limited, usually abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in London. Published authors and poets include T. S. Eliot (an early Faber editor and director), W. H. Auden, Margaret Storey, William Golding, Samuel ...