Pochette – History and Development

The pochette is a small stringed instrument of the bowed type, used primarily by dance masters and street musicians from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Known also as “pocket violin,” it is essentially a very small wooden violin designed to fit into a pocket, hence its common name pochette (French for “small pocket”). It was particularly popular in the 19th century but was used as early as the 15th century. The pochette was designed for portability and was often used by dance masters at royal courts and aristocratic settings, as well as by street musicians. The rebec was used in a similar way in earlier times.

A common misconception is that pochettes were designed for children, but this is not true. They were actually intended for adults. Their small size made them suitable for situations where larger violins were too cumbersome to transport or too expensive to own. The body of the pochette is small, but the fingerboard is relatively long compared to the overall size of the instrument, allowing for the widest possible melodic range.

Pochettes come in various shapes. The narrow, boat-shaped form, known as sardino, is one of the most common, alongside the pear-shaped type. The pochette in the shape of a violin is often referred to as “kit violins.”

History and Names

Throughout history, the pochette has been known by several different names depending on the region and its intended use. Some of these include:

• Kytte (English)

• Treble viol

• Creyterjes

• Poche

• Kit violin

• Dance master’s set

• Pochette d’amour

• Sourdine

• Posch

• Tanzmeistergeige

• Taschengeige

• Trögl-geige

• Canino

• Pochetto

• Sordina

• Linterculus

These names reflect the different cultural contexts in which the instrument was used, as well as the variety of shapes and designs it took.

Development and Construction

The pochette was commonly misunderstood to be a child’s instrument, but it was actually designed for adults. Its small size allowed it to be used in situations where a larger instrument would be too cumbersome to carry or too expensive to own. The body is small, but its fingerboard is long enough to maintain a broad melodic range.

The pochette was made in various shapes, with the narrow, boat-shaped sardino being one of the most common forms, along with the pear-shaped version. Some pochettes were shaped like violins and were referred to as “kit violins,” while others took inspiration from older string instruments, such as the rebec.

The Pochette in Music and Culture

The pochette was especially popular from the 16th to the 18th centuries, both for dancing and music education. Dance masters used it not only for teaching dance but also for leading dances at royal courts and other festive events. It is known that some famous luthiers, such as Antonio Stradivari, made pochettes during their careers. Stradivari’s pochettes were highly prized for their sound quality, and two of them have survived to the modern era, one of which is displayed at the Conservatoire de Paris Museum.

An interesting fact is that Claudio Monteverdi used the “chirping” sound of the pochette to evoke bird song in his opera L’Orfeo (1607). In the opera, the pochettes are referred to as violini piccoli alla francese (“small French violins”).

Modern Significance and Production

Although the pochette was replaced by larger and more powerful string instruments in the 19th century, it still holds a place in historical studies and collections today. Even in the modern era, it remains a subject of interest for luthiers and restorers of historical instruments. It is appreciated for its unique sound and its role in the history of European music.

Today, pochettes can still be found in several historical museums, such as the Musée de la Musique in Paris or the Cremona Museum in Italy, where they are displayed as examples of master craftsmanship and as instruments that represent a unique part of musical history.

Conclusion

The pochette, a small and portable string instrument, has a long and fascinating history closely intertwined with European musical culture. Although it has been replaced by other instruments, its sound and construction still carry historical significance today. Pochettes were and continue to be valued for their ability to produce a distinctive sound, which even inspired some well-known composers.

This instrument not only represents a piece of musical history but also demonstrates how the art of instrument-making can respond to the needs of its time and influence the development of music.