Basel.ReRenaissance

Racketts (DE: Rankette) are very special instruments. They were particularly popular in German-speaking countries at the end of the 16th century.

The bass rackett has the same vocal register depth as a bass pommer, but is so small that it fits in the palm of your hand. This is thanks to its nine-fold coiled bore. Although its bore is cylindrical, the instrument achieves a range of a twelfth through the clever addition of extra holes, which are covered by both thumbs, both little fingers, and even the fleshy upper parts of the fingers already in use.
🎶We find the first reference to a “Raggett” in the Württemberg inventory of 1576 and then to “Rogetten” in a Graz inventory of 1590.
🐝There are also illustrations of a single rackett being played in a mixed consort of the Munich court wind band.

We would like to thank Christoph Schüler for building a complete set of ranketts in the tuning a’ = 465 Hertz especially for this program.

Musicians:
Ann Allen, direction
Adrien Reboisson
Silke Gwendolyn Schulze
Maruša Brezavšček
Melissa Sandel

Video and audio: Nicola Paoli

From the October 2025 ReRenaissance concert in Basel, Switzerland