The Renaissance Instrument That Looks Like A Pipe

The crumhorn is a curved woodwind instrument that produces a unique buzzy sound. Despite its resemblance to a simple pipe, it is actually a complex double-reed device that was a staple of European music for centuries.

This instrument gets its name from the German words for crooked horn because of its distinctively bent shape. Because the reed is enclosed in a cap, the player cannot touch it with their lips, which creates a very specific, constant timbre. Although it nearly vanished from history after the Renaissance, it made a surprising comeback during the 1960s. Today, it remains a favorite for musicians who want to recreate the authentic, rustic sounds of early folk and courtly music.