The British Museum citole: new perspectives 2010

A symposium to highlight recent research related to the medieval citole in the British Museum s collection.

This is the first international symposium on this unique instrument, and celebrates recent work done by scientists at the Museum as well as significant new research by scholars in many fields.

The British Museum citole (formerly known as the Warwick Castle gittern) is one of a small handful of medieval stringed musical instruments to have survived, providing an invaluable link between iconography and reality. Equally, it is important as one of the most extraordinary examples of craftsmanship and decorative arts from the 14th century, prominently displayed in the Museum s recently renovated Medieval Gallery (Room 40).

A rich post-medieval existence is indicated by an engraved silver plate which links the instrument to Queen Elizabeth I and her favourite, Robert Dudley. The instrument was modified into a violin, receiving a new soundboard, fingerboard, tailpiece, peg arrangement, and other fittings. The history of these later accretions yield valuable insights into the violin and violin making in Britain.

By taking as its focus the single extant instrument, it is hoped that this symposium will promote research and discussion about a number of diverse topics:

• Iconography and morphology of citoles
• Citoles in documents and literature
• Citole performance practices
• The artwork on the British Museum citole
• The craft of the medieval instrument builder
• Stringed instruments in the medieval period: performers, producers, and patrons
• The violin fittings on the British Museum citole
• Music and musical instruments of Elizabeth I