Scan 215
Catalogue of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, 1918
26 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
11222A. GUITAR. Native name unknown ………………… Nicaragua
2Body of hard wood. Four gut strings. Thirteen gut frets.
3Length, 40 cm.; of body, 23.3 cm.; width, 9.8 cm.; depth, 4.5 cm.
4(Henry Kraemer.)
6The instruments based on the principle of the plucked string, and included in the series from 950 to 1222, cover a wide geographical range, and date back to an antiquity so remote as to appall any but an Oriental mind. The Japanese challenge our credulity by pointing to the semi-mythical sage-koto (3468 B. C.) used by the Emperor's concubines, and to the more modern hitzu no koto, dating from 2000 B. C.
8While this type has been, and still is, a favorite, its musical possibilities are restricted when compared to those inhering in the relatively modern bowed instruments, for the secret of the wonderful resources of the violin-type lies in the fact that the tone is produced by the continuous friction of a bow on the string, rather than by intermittent plucking. The tone produced by the latter process is neither resonant nor sustained.
10The bow was discovered by the Arabians, and was carried by the Moors to Spain. Through its discovery the range of musical expression was greatly extended. Almost invariably bowed instruments have a "true" finger-board, making finer distinctions of pitch than are possible with frets. The bridge over which the strings are drawn is also a most important factor. Occasionally, in primitive and certain Oriental types, the bridge is missing. In the more important East Indian types sympathetic strings are used.
12Section G. Vibrating Strings running over Bridge and "True" Finger Board, actuated by the Friction of a Bow. (Primitive and Oriental.)
141223. FIDDLE ……………………………………… Alaska
15Long narrow body of drift-wood. One string of whale bone. Rude bow. Length, 37.5 cm. Width, 5.7 cm. Depth, 2.3 cm.
171224. FIDDLE. Similar to No. 1223 …… Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
191225. FIDDLE. Native name unknown …………… Madagascar
20The body is formed from half of a large cocoanut-shell, over the open end of which is cemented a belly of bladder. Finger-board of a bamboo joint. Thin wire strings run over a bridge to rude tuning-peggs in the neck.
21Length, 46.5 cm. Diameter of body, 14.5 cm. Length of bow, 32 cm.
231226. FIDDLE ……………………………………… Philippine Islands
24Body from a section of bamboo. Four gut strings run over a high bridge. A rude bow of bamboo and horse-hair.
25Length, 71.7 cm. Diameter of body, 6.4 cm.
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