The following is a table of period printed (as opposed to manuscript) sources of music for cittern, bandora, and orpharion. Clicking on a title in blue will display the contents for that book. I hope eventually to have links to the contents for all extant prints. If there are any other sources you know of that have been missed, or if you have a correction, please contact me and I will be more than happy to include them.

N.B. A title in brackets denotes a lost source.

Sources for Cittern:

Title	Composer / Publisher	Year of Publication	Place of Publication / Publisher	Type of Instrument	Type of Tablature	Notes
[Cythare Germanice Tabulature]	Schlumberger, J.	1525/1532	Mainz?
[Briefve et facile instruction]	Le Roy, Adrian	1551	Paris: ?
Quatriesme livre contenant plusieurs fantasies . . .	Morlaye, Guillaume	1552	Paris: Michel Fezandat	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning. Book of guitar pieces; contains 9 cittern works. Early (strictly?) diatonic cittern, missing 1st fret.
[Carmina Quae Cythara Pulsantur]	Vreedman, Sebastian	1563	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse
Second Livre de Cistre	Le Roy, Adrian	1564	Paris: Adrian Le Roy and Robert Ballard	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning.
Nova et Elegantissima in Cythara	Viaera, Frederico	1564	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning. Includes cittern pieces to accompany Pacoloni lute trios followed by solo cittern works.
Breve et facile instruction pour apprendre la tablature	Le Roy, Adrian and Robert Ballard	1565	Paris: Adrian Le Roy and Robert Ballard	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning. Modern edition and translation available as free PDF.
[The Breffe and Playne Instruction to Lerne to Play on the Gyttron and Also the Cetterne]	Rowbotham, James	1568	London: James Rowbotham			Reprint of Le Roy and Ballard 1565?
Nova Longeque Elgantissima Cithara	Vreedman, Sebastian	1568	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning.
[Carmina Italica, Gallica & Germanica Ludenda Cythara]	Kargel, Sixt	1569
[Renovata Cythara]	Kargel, Sixt	1569
Carminum quae cythara pulsantur liber secundus	Vreedman, Sebastian	1569	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning.
[Livre de Tabulature de Cistre]	Gorlier, Simon	156?	Lyon: Simon Gorlier
[Troisième Livre de Cistre]	Le Roy, Adrian	156? or 1570?				While Brown's Instrumental Music lists this volume as 156?, Grijp notes in "Fret Patterns of the Cittern" that Brown's source lists no date for theTroisième Livre and one of Mersenne's texts lists a book by Le Roy with a specific date of 1570.
Hortulus Cytharae	Phalèse, Pierre, and Jean Bellère	1570	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse and Jean Bellère	4-course diatonic & chromatic citterns	French tab	Part I contains works for 4-course diatonic, French tuning; Part II contains works for 4-course chromatic, Italian tuning
Il Primo Libro di Tabolatura di Citthara	Virchi, Paolo	1574	Venice: Girolamo Scotto	6-course & 7-course chromatic citterns	Italian tab	Italian tuning. Includes some songs.
[Jardinet de Cistre]		1575	Paris: ?
[Renovata Cythara]	Kargel, Sixt	1575
Toppel Cythar	Kargel, Sixt, and Johan Dominico Lais	1575	Strassburg: Bernhard Jobin	6-course chromatic cittern	Italian tab
[Hortulus Cytharae]	Phalèse, Pierre	1575	Louvain: Pierre Phalèse
Renovata Cythara	Kargel, Sixt	1578	Strassburg: Bernhard Jobin	4-course diatonic cittern	Italian tab, inverted	French tuning.
Toppel Cythar	Kargel, Sixt, and Johan Dominico Lais	1578	Strassburg: Bernhard Jobin	6-course chromatic cittern	Italian tab
Renovata Cythara	Kargel, Sixt	1580	Strassburg: Bernhard Jobin	4-course diatonic cittern	Italian tab, inverted	French tuning.
[Anleitung die Zither zu Spielen]	Brambilla, Ambrosius	1582
Hortulus Citharae	Phalèse, Pierre, and Jean Bellère	1582	Antwerp: Pierre Phalèse and Jean Bellère	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab
[Le Jardinet du Cistre Vulgaire]	Bellère, Jean	1592	Anvers: Jean Bellère
[A New Booke of Citterne Lessons]	Barley, William	1593	London?
[A Moste Perfect and True Instruction]	Danter, J.	1593?	London: ?
The Cittharn Schoole	Holborne, Anthony	1597	London: Peter Short	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning. Works for cittern solo, cittern with voice, and cittern with bass.
The Psalmes of David in Meter	Allison, Richard	1599	London: William Barley	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning. Consort songs set for voices, lute or orpharion and cittern. (Bandora is also specified as an option on the title page, but no bandora tablature is included.)
The First Booke of Consort Lessons	Morley, Thomas	1599	London: William Barley	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab.	Italian tuning. Works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern). Of the two cittern partbooks, only the 1599 edition survives.
[Niew Chyterboek]	Sweelinck, J.P.	1602	Amsterdam?
[Primo Libro D'Intavolatura di Citara?]?	Vincenti, G. ?	pre-1602?	Venetia: Giacomo Vincenti?	6-course? diatonic?	Italian tab.?	While not listed by any other source, Vincenti's Secondo Libro D'Intavolatura di Citara indicates that there was an earlier, first book. That such a book is for a 6-course diatonically fretted cittern in Italian tablature is purely conjecture based upon the Secondo Libro.
Secondo Libro D'Intavolatura di Citara	Vincenti, G.	1602	Venetia: Giacomo Vincenti	6-course diatonic* cittern	Italian tab.	* Tablature is for a "strictly" diatonic instrument (i.e. no partial frets in chromatic positions), but uses asterisks to indicate chromatic notes between the diatonic frets. The tablature system appears to be an attempt to fit later music to a more archaic(?) instrument. Does the fact that this is a "secondo libro" indicate that there had been a previous book for cittern by Vincenti?
New Citharen Lessons	Robinson, Thomas	1609	London: William Barley	4-course chromatic & 14-course chromatic citterns	French tab	Italian tuning. Contains works for cittern, 2 citterns in unison, voice and cittern, cittern and bass, and 6 works for 14-course arch-cittern.
Consort Lessons	Rosseter, Philip	1609	London: Thomas Este	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning. Works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern).
[The First Booke of Consort Lessons]	Morley, Thomas	1611	London	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning; works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern). Second edition of 1599 volume. Of the two cittern partbooks, only the 1599 edition survives. Based on the other surviving partbooks from 1611, the cittern 1611 edition contained two additional pieces.
[Der Violen-Cythaer mit vyf Snaaren, en niewe Sorte melodieuse inventie, twe Naturen hebbende, vier Parthyen spelende, licht de leeren, half Violens half Cyther...]	Vreedman, Michael	1612	Arnheim: ?	violin-cittern?		Michael Vreedman was the son of Sebastian Vreedman and was a maker of violins and citterns in Utrecht from 1583 on. He supposedly invented a violin-cittern, for which this method (in tablature) was published. Vander Straeten, La musique au Pays-Bas VIII, pp.419ff prints a 17th-century list of musicalia which contains mention of "Obras de Cythara, Miguel Vreedman." (Waldbauer) Whether or not these "obras" were also for the violin-cittern or for regular cittern is unknown. A copy of Der Violen Cyther also shows up in an inventory of Frisian clerk Pibo Gaulthieri of Leeuwarden in 1618, along with two six-course citterns built by Vreedman. (Visscher)
The Teares or Lamentacions of a Sorrowfull Soule	Leighton, Sir William	1614	London: William Stansby	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	The first half of this work contains religious consort songs set for what appears to be an "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern) plus voices. Note: the 1613 edition does not contain music.
Intavolatura di Liuto Attiorbato, Libro Quarto	Melii, Pietro Paulo	1616	Venetia: Giacomo Vincenti	9c. ("Citara Tiorbata") chromatic cittern	Italian tab	Italian tuning, 9(+?) courses, "Cordatura del Signor Paolo Virgo," possibly F or A-?-G-d-f-b-g-d'-e'. (Segerman erroneously calls for A-B-c-d-f-b-g-d'-e'.) Primarily works for lute; however, the volume contains a Ballet for 9c. cittern, 3 lutes, violin, bass viol, flute, harp, and clavicembalo.
[Der Cytharen Lusthoff]		pre-1618				A copy of this book is listed in the inventory of Frisian clerk Pibo Gaulthieri of Leeuwarden in 1618. (Visscher)
Neder-Landtsche Gedenck-Clanck	Valerius, Adrian	1626	Haerlem	4-course diatonic cittern	French tab	French tuning. Works for voice, lute and cittern.
[A Booke of New Lessons for the Citharen]?	Playford, John	[var. editions, 1650 ... 1658]*				* See Ward, pp. 83-93 for a detailed explantion of Playford's publications for cittern
A Booke of New Lessons for the Cithern & Gittern	Playford, John	1652	London: T.H.	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning.
[Cithren and Gittern Lessons]	Playford, John	1659	London
[Musicks Solace on the Cithren and Gittern]?	Playford, John	[var. editions, 1662 ... 1696]*				* See Ward, pp. 83-93 for a detailed explantion of Playford's publications for cittern.
Musick's Delight on the Cithren	Playford, John	1666	London: W.G.	4-course chromatic cittern	French tab	Italian tuning.
[Treasury of Musick for Cithern, Therobo-Lute and Viol]?						* See Ward, p.93

Sources for Bandora:

Title	Composer / Publisher	Year of Publication	Place of Publication / Publisher	Type of Instrument	Type of Tablature	Notes
A banquet of daintie conceits	Munday, Anthony	1588	London: I. C[harlewood]	[bandora]		Title lists that the volume contains pieces to be sung "either to the lute, bandora, virginalles, or anie other instrument". No bandora tablature included.
A new booke of tabliture for the bandora	Barley, William	1596	London	7-course bandora	French tab.	Both for solo bandora and bandora with voice.
The Psalmes of David in Meter	Allison, Richard	1599	London: William Barley	[bandora]		Italian tuning. Consort songs set for voices, lute or orpharion and cittern. (Bandora is also specified as an option on the title page, but no bandora tablature is included.)
The First Booke of Consort Lessons	Morley, Thomas	1599	London: William Barley	6-course bandora	French tab.	Italian tuning. Works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern). Of the two cittern partbooks, only the 1599 edition survives.
The Schoole of Musicke	Robinson, Thomas	1603	London: Thomas Este	[bandora]		Though bandora is mentioned on the title page, no bandora tablature is included.specifically for orpharion.
Consort Lessons	Rosseter, Philip	1609	London: Thomas Este	6-course bandora	French tab	Italian tuning. Works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern).
[The First Booke of Consort Lessons]	Morley, Thomas	1611	London	6-course bandora	French tab	Italian tuning; works for "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern). Second edition of 1599 volume. Of the two cittern partbooks, only the 1599 edition survives. Based on the other surviving partbooks from 1611, the cittern 1611 edition contained two additional pieces.
The Teares or Lamentacions of a Sorrowfull Soule	Leighton, Sir William	1614	London: William Stansby	6-course(?) bandora	French tab	The first half of this work contains religious consort songs set for what appears to be an "English Consort" (2 viols, lute, bandora, flute, and cittern) plus voices. Note: the 1613 edition does not contain music.
Mottects or Graue chamber musique	Peerson, Martin	1630	London: William Stansby	[bandora]		The full title states that the music is "all fit for voyces and vials, with an organ part; which for want of organs, may be performed on virginals, base-lute, bandora, or Irish harpe." No bandora tablature included.

Sources for Orpharion:

Title	Composer / Publisher	Year of Publication	Place of Publication / Publisher	Type of Instrument	Type of Tablature	Notes
A new booke of tabliture for the orpharion	Barley, William	1596	London	7-course orpharion	French tab.
The Psalmes of David in Meter	Allison, Richard	1599	London: William Barley	[orpharion]	French tab.	Italian tuning. Consort songs set for voices, lute or orpharion and cittern. (Bandora is also specified as an option on the title page, but no bandora tablature is included.)
The First Booke of Songes or Ayres	Dowland, John	1600	London: Peter Short	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres	Dowland, John	1600	London: Thomas Este	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
A Booke of Ayres	Campion, Thomas and Philip Rosseter	1601	London: Thomas Este	[8-course orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The First Booke of Songes or Ayres ... Newly Corrected.	Dowland, John	1603	London: E. Short	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires	Dowland, John	1603	London: Peter Short	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The Schoole of Musicke	Robinson, Thomas	1603	London: Thomas Este	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The First Booke of Songs or Ayres of 4. Parts	Pilkington, Francis	1605	London: Thomas Este	[7-course orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
A Booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke	Bartlet, John	1606	London: John Windet	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The First Booke of Songes or Ayres ... Newly Corrected and Amended.	Dowland, John	1606	London: Humfrey Lownes	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
Musicke of Sundrie Kindes	Ford, Thomas.	1607	London: John Browne	[6-, 7-, and 8-course orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
Captain Humes Poeticall Musicke	Hume, Tobias	1607	London: John Windet	[two orpharion + bass viol]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The First Booke of Songes or Ayres ... Newly Corrected and Amended.	Dowland, John	1613	London: Humfrey Lownes	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
Sacred Hymns, Consisting of Fifti Select Psalms of David and Others, Paraphrastically Turned into English Verse	Sandys, Sir Edwin and Robert Tailour	1615	London: Thomas Snodham	[6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-course orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The Third and Fourth Booke of Ayres	Campion, Thomas	1617	London: Thomas Snodham	[orpharion]	French tab	Orpharion is mentioned as a possibility on the title page, but no pieces are listed as specifically for orpharion.
The Second Set of Madrigals	Pilkington, Francis	1624	London	orpharion	French tab.	The Altus book contains a "Pavan for Orpharion."

Bibliographical Sources:

• Brown, Howard Mayer.Instrumental Music Printed Before 1600: A Bibliography. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1965.
• Boye, Gary. Music for the Lute, Guitar, and Vihuela (1470-1799). 29 September, 2010. <http://www.library.appstate.edu/music/lute/home.html>
• Gill, Donald. "The Orpharion and the Bandora." Galpin Society Journal (1960), p.14-25.
• Grijp, Louis Peter. "Fret Patterns of the Cittern." GSJ 34 (1981), pp.62-97. Also [in French] in Musique Ancienne 21 (1986), pp. 40-69.
• Harwood, Ian and James Tyler. "Cittern." New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
• Tyler, James. "Ceterone." New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
  
• Visscher, R. Iets over het muziekleven te Leeuwarden in het begin der 17e eeuw, in: De vrije Fries 28 (1928), pp.17-31, cited in: Grijp, Louis Peter. "The cittern of Sweelinck and Vermeer. Contextual information for the excavated Zuyderzee citterns," in: Michaelsteiner Konferenzberichte 66: Gittare und Zister — Bauweise, Spieltechnik und Geschichte bis 1800. (2005).
• Waldbauer, Ivan. The Cittern in the Sixteenth Century and its Music in France and the Low Countries. Dissertation. Harvard University (1964), pp.297-8 (see also footnotes 88 and 89).
• Ward, John. "Sprightly and Cheerful Musick: notes on the cittern, gittern and guitar in 16th- and 17th-century England." LSJ 21 (1979-81).

Source Citation: Hartig, Andrew. "Period Sources of Printed Music for Cittern." Renovata Cythara: The Renaissance Cittern Site. Ed. Andrew Hartig. 02 April 2023. 21 December 2024. <http://www.cittern.theaterofmusic.com/printed/index.html>.