A rosette (from
French, meaning ''little rose''), rose, or knot, in the context of
musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make Music, musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person ...
s, is a form of
soundhole decoration. The name originated during the medieval period, as a comparison with church windows which were called
rose window
Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The term ''rose window'' wa ...
s. On the
oud they are called by the
Arabic language
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
term shams, meaning ''sun''.
History
From the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
to the
baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
periods, it was common to have ornately carved soundhole designs, called roses. These were either carved directly into the wood of the soundboard or inserted from behind and made of carved wood or parchment. The designs used for
lute
A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck (music), neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
More specifically, the term "lu ...
s and other early instruments were often inspired by the geometric patterns in
Islamic art
Islamic art is a part of Islamic culture and encompasses the visual arts produced since the 7th century CE by people who lived within territories inhabited or ruled by Muslims, Muslim populations. Referring to characteristic traditions across ...
, probably from those used on the oud. During the medieval period, most such designs were 4-sided, whereas during the renaissance and baroque periods, 6-sided designs were used.
Image:Stradivarius Guitar - 1700, rosette 1, National Music Museum, Vermillion.jpg, Baroque guitar
The Baroque guitar (–1750) is a string instrument with five Course (music), courses of gut strings and moveable gut frets. The first (highest pitched) course sometimes used only a single string.
History
The Baroque guitar replaced the lute as ...
soundhole with inserted wooden rose and inlaid rosette (1700).
Image:Mandora MET DP168840.jpg, A carved rose on a mandora
File:Mandora MET DP168838.jpg, Mandora (1726)
File:Lute 2, MfM.Uni-Leipzig.jpg, 6~9 courses lute (Calchedon, Calichon) (1735)Georg Kinsky: Musikhistorisches Museum von Wilhelm Heyer in Cöln, Bd. 2, Köln 1912, S. 98.
File:Gallichon, Muzeum In ...
from 1726.
Image:Guitar MET DP232761.jpg, Baroque guitar soundhole with multi-layered parchment rose from behind, surrounded by inlaid rosette (1630).
Image:Mandoline MET MIDP89.4.1066 rose.jpg, Baroque mandolin with inserted rose made from ivory.
Modern usage
During the
romantic and
classical periods in western music, the carved ornate soundhole roses went out of fashion and were replaced by open soundholes surrounded by inlaid decoration, commonly called rosettes. This style is still used today on
classical and acoustic guitars. Modern rosettes can be made of wood or plastic. Roses inserted from behind are still used on Ouds,
Lavta
The lavta is a plucked string music instrument from Istanbul.
Description
The Politiko Laouto has a small body made of many ribs made using carvel bending technique. Its appearance is somewhat like a small (Turkish) oud - the strings are mad ...
s,
Laoutos and other modern lutes. Decorative inserted roses are also sometimes used in modern times on electro-acoustic instruments, to prevent feedback.
bouzouki
The bouzouki (, also ; ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', , from Greek , from Turkish ) is a musical instrument popular in West Asia (Syria, Iraq), Europe and Balkans (Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey). It is a member of the long-necked lute fam ...
with inlaid rosette and scratch plate.
References
{{Renaissance music
String instrument construction
Guitar parts and accessories
Lutes