Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments in the South Kensington museum, preceded by an essay on the history of musical instruments, 1874 › scan 339
Scan 339
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments in the South Kensington museum, preceded by an essay on the history of musical instruments, 1874
22 lines. Read by computer on 14 September 2026. Printed page 313. See the scan on archive.org.
1adopting the pitch according to his fancy. He twangs the strings with his fingers, and obtains the tones which he requires by pressing the strings down at the places indicated by little studs of mother-of-pearl.
3The kin was the favourite instrument of the philosopher Confucius.
5(15.)
7URH-HEEN. A Chinese fiddle. Generally has only two strings; the present specimen has four. Its body is covered at the top with the skin of the snake called tan, a small species of the genus Boa. Chinese. Modern.
9As an oddity it may be pointed out that the bow is attached to the strings in such a manner that the hair passes between them. It is said, and may easily be believed, that the Chinese violinists have to practise very assiduously before they can wield with dexterity the bow thus placed.
11(132.)
13HIUEN-TCHUNG. Antique Chinese bell. Supposed to be very old. (See Fig. 41.)
15The Chinese mandarins are as zealous collectors of antiquities as any Englishman, and it is said that occasionally clever reproductions of scarce archæological curiosities are provided for them by cunning Chinese artificers.
17(16.)
19THRO, or Tarau. Burmese violin. The thro has three strings, as was the case with our rebec of olden time and as in the present day the rebab of the nations of Arab descent is often strung. The top of the finger-board is ornamented with carvings in wood, and with a figure in ivory of a little idol. The strings are of silk. Burmese. Modern.
21Nasal as its tone may appear to us, the thro is certainly a superior contrivance if compared with the urh-heen of the Chinese. From an
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