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Music
Bladder Pipe
Cornamuse
Dulcian
Gamba
Harp
Harpsichord
Kortholt
Lizard
Lute
Organetto
Pipe and
Tabor
Psaltery
Rebec
Recorder
Sacbut
Schalmei
Serpent
Shawm
Shofar
Viol |
Unlike the medieval shawm, the late Middle Ages
and Renaissance shawm uses a broad cane reed controlled by the player's
lips. With the smaller size shawms, the reed could be placed inside a
pirouette, a funnel shaped protector against which the player places his
lips. This pirouette not only protects the reed, but also helps avoid lip
fatique.
All shawms have several vent holes between the hole for the lowest note and
the end of the bell. This section of the instrument is very long and
contributes to the tone and carrying power of the instrument. A large fontanelle protects the key mechanism of the lowest note(s), and the
crenellated metal band often found wrapped around the bell not only helps
protect the instrument but also helps make the shawm a sturdy weapon for
settling disputes among town musicians.
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