Most of the music in this book comes from editions or manuscripts from England in the late 1500s. There are also a few Frenc h pieces. The cittern was popular in Italy England and France. Aside from various tunings there were two main kinds of inst ruments being played during the 16th and 17th centuries: the 4 course (four sets of doubled strings) and the 6 course citter n with several editions of music to go along with both.