Scan 235
Catalogue of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, 1918
33 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Sub-section I. Bowed wire strings.
31319. STREICHZITHER. (Eng. Psaltery-viol) …………. Germany
4Kite-shaped body with two wire strings.
5Length, 45.6 cm. Width, 21.4 to 3.8 cm. Depth, 3.3 cm.
6This type combines the form of the violin—frequently with exaggerated details—with the wire strings and frets of the zither. The strings are bowed and, in their position, reverse the usual order. The German form is said to have been invented in 1823, but the English instrument was in existence in the seventeenth century. It cannot be said, that either the Streichzither, or any one of its variants has greatly extended the frontiers of the realm of music. In Jacobi Bessoni's "Theatrum instrumentorum" (1582) Fig. XXIX shows an instrument with viol body, fretted neck, and wire strings. It was played with a bow and may be looked upon as the founder of the family to which Nos. 1319-1327 belong.
7Of the following examples, Nos. 1319, 1320, 1326, and 1327 have 25.27, 30, and 25 frets respectively.
91320. STREICHZITHER. Nineteenth century …………. Germany
10Leaf-shaped body, with four wire strings.
11Length, 51 cm. Width, 15.2 cm. Depth, 3.3 cm.
12Signed—"Georg Tiefenbrunner, Munich."
141321. PHILOMELE, or STAHLGEIGE. Nineteenth century …… Germany
15In form resembling the Diskant-viola da gamba. (Ital. Violetta piccola). It carries four wire strings.
16Length, 53.8 cm. Width, 20.7 cm. Depth, 3.8 cm.
181322. PHILOMELE. Similar to No. 1321, with sloping shoulders. Germany
19This type was developed in Germany about the middle of the last century. Length, 54.8 cm. Width, 20 cm. Depth, 3.8 cm.
211323. VIOL-CITHER. Nineteenth century …………. Germany
22Length, 53.2 cm. Width, 23.9 cm. Depth, 3.8 cm.
241324. SULTANA, or CITHER-VIOL ……………….. Ireland
25Viol-shaped body, with sloping shoulders. Ivory inlay. Six strings, two lower of wire and the others of gut. It was often strung entirely with wire and had a fretted finger-board.
26Length, 67 cm. Width, 23.2 cm. Depth, 6.7 cm.
27Signed—"Perry, Dublin."
291325. STREICHMELODION, or BREITOLINE …………. Germany
30Finger-board with brass frets and mother-of-pearl inlay. Four metal strings. Played with a plectrum or a bow. The second name given refers to its invention by Leopold Breit, of Brünn, in 1856.
31Length, 60.4 cm. Width, 20 to 30 cm. Depth, 5 cm.
32Signed—"J. Haslwanter, Munich."
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