).A
keyboard instrument designed by Adriano Banchieri and described in the 1611
edition of his L'organo suonarino, pp.3–4. Banchieri mentions having
seen 21 instruments he called ‘arpicordo leutato’ in Milan, which had a sound
between that of an arpicordo (i.e. a polygonal, wire-strung virginal) and a
lute (see Lute-harpsichord). Inspired by the chitarrone, he added
more notes to the bass end of the arpicordo and gave the new instrument
a name derived from both instruments, saying also that it had the quality of a
chitarrone in the bass and a harp (It. arpa) in the treble. As harps and
chitarroni often used gut strings (although wire strings were sometimes used)
it seems most likely that the arpitarrone was a gut-strung instrument. An
arpitarrone was made for Banchieri by a Milanese instrument maker (of French
origin) named Michel de Hodes (who had also made an arpicordo leutato),
with the unusual compass of CD–e'' (i.e. lacking C).
DENZIL WRAIGHT