Crossword clues for shawm
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Shawm \Shawm\, n. [OE. shalmie, OF. chalemie; cf. F. chalumeau
shawm, chaume haulm, stalk; all fr. L. calamus a reed, reed
pipe. See Haulm, and cf. Calumet.] (Mus.)
A wind instrument of music, formerly in use, supposed to have
resembled either the clarinet or the hautboy in form.
[Written also shalm, shaum.]
--Otway.
Even from the shrillest shaum unto the cornamute.
--Drayton.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"medieval oboe-like instrument," mid-14c., schalmeis (plural), also schallemele (late 14c.), from Old French chalemie, chalemel, from Late Latin calamellus, literally "a small reed," diminutive of Latin calamus "reed," from Greek kalamos, from PIE *kole-mo- "grass, reed" (cognates: Old English healm "straw," Latin culmus "stalk"). Mistaken as a plural and trimmed of its "-s" ending from mid-15c. Related: Shawmist.
Wiktionary
n. a mediaeval double reed wind instrument with conical wooden body
WordNet
n. a medieval oboe
Wikipedia
The shawm is a conical bore, double-reed woodwind instrument made in Europe from the 12th century to the present day. It achieved its peak of popularity during the medieval and Renaissance periods, after which it was gradually eclipsed by the oboe family of descendant instruments in classical music. It was likely of ancient origin and was imported to Europe from the Islamic East at some point between the 9th and 12th centuries. Its name is linguistically related to the Arabic zamr, the Turkish zūrnā, the Persian surnāy, the Chinese suona, the Javanese saruni, and the Hindu sahanai or sanayi. The body of the shawm is usually turned from a single piece of wood, and terminates in a flared bell somewhat like that of a trumpet. Beginning in the 16th century, shawms were made in several sizes, from sopranino to great bass, and four and five-part music could be played by a consort consisting entirely of shawms.
All later shawms (excepting the smallest) have at least one key allowing a downward extension of the compass; the keywork is typically covered by a perforated wooden cover called the fontanelle. The bassoon-like double reed, made from the same Arundo donax cane used for oboes and bassoons, is inserted directly into a socket at the top of the instrument, or in the larger types, on the end of a metal tube called the bocal. The pirouette, a small wooden attachment with a cavity in the center resembling a thimble, surrounds the lower part of the reed—this provides support for the lips and embouchure.
Since only a short portion of the reed protrudes past the pirouette, the player has only limited contact with the reed, and therefore limited control of dynamics. The shawm’s conical bore and flaring bell, combined with the style of playing dictated by the use of a pirouette, gives the instrument a piercing, trumpet-like sound, well-suited for out-of-doors performance.
Usage examples of "shawm".
French, who did not yet understand the sublime elevation that separated the Greek emperors born in the purple from all other earthly potentates, were at first surprised that Manuel did not, according to the custom of the West, come out of his city processionally with shawms and viols to welcome the most Christian King of the Franks and his baronage, but sent them only emissaries who with salaams directed them to pitch their tents outside the walls at the tip of the Golden Horn.
While his sister kept the smaller girls, Shawm ran for the midwoman of the stave.
He was about to say more when the music of hornpipe, shawm, and sackbut started up.
Am Steg, Shawm striding just ahead with frequent glances back as if to make sure she still followed.
Turning abruptly, Shawm handed the baby to Picardy and opened a small door at the side of the jig.
The effect is produced with a minimum of means: the human voice, droning or chanting in low registers, progressing by semi- and quarter-tones, and a small number of wind and percussion instruments - cymbals, bells, shawms, trumpets and drums -which made up the temple orchestra, but also had separate functions.
In this connection it becomes natural that the dances should have been performed according to a precise ritual to the sound of drums, shawms and trumpets, all instruments connected with worship.
A branle was forming in the hallway like a fifteenth-century conga line, accompanied only by Felix Arabia on shawm, resembling a Bosch demon in a genial moment.
Vagabond-musicians played raucous airs on shawms and pennywhistles, Vagabond-actors performed a comedy in zargon, stray dogs copulated in the family chapel, and Jack, presiding over all at the head of the table, dressed in the rich man’s satin, almost fell asleep.
It was run nominally by an Austrian named Vogt, who worked painstakingly during the daylight hours putting together rebecs, shawms and theorbos, and spied at night.