Scan 201
Catalogue of the stearns collection of musical instruments 2nd edition, 1921
22 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 175. See the scan on archive.org.
11142. BANJO-MONOCHORD. Native name unknown………….Brazil
2Body of the top of a large cocoanut, gilded. Parchment head and screw bracing. Length, 75 cm.; diameter of head, 12.5 cm.; depth, 7 cm.
41143. MONOCHORD………………………………………Germany
5Kite-shaped body of wood decorated with colored pictures in decalomania. Gut string. The work of a Bavarian peasant. Length, 30 cm.; width, 20.3 cm.; depth, 3.9 cm.
71144. PSALMODIKON. Monochord………………………..Norway
8Oblong body. One string running over a serrated strip of wood. A printed label defines the point at which the string must be "stopped" to produce a given tone. It gives a chromatic series from g to g sharp". Length, 80 cm.; width, 11 cm.; depth, 7 cm.
9Signed—"K. Trahm."
111145. SCHEITHOLT. (Fr. Buche)………………………..Germany
12Slightly tapering body. One melody, and three accompaniment strings. A primitive zither type. This specimen is very old. Length, 78 cm.; width, 2.5 to 12.3 cm.; depth, 5.6 cm.
141146. BUCHE, or EPINETTE DES VOSGES…………………France
15A small type. Length, 59.5 cm.; width, 3.5 to 8 cm.; depth, 2.8 cm.
171146A. DULCIMORE………………………………………Kentucky, United States
18This unique type, held by many to be indigenous to the mountain regions of Kentucky and Tennessee, has certain structural resemblances to the scheitholt, or buche, while the divergence in form is negligible. The sides, instead of being straight are so curved as to form two two semi-elliptical sections (12 and 18 cm. in diameter, respectively) between which is a narrower waist-section (9 cm. in diameter). The body (98 cm. long and 4 cm. deep) is of thin black walnut, the top being pierced by four heart-shaped sound-holes. A narrow raised strip running along the center of the top bears seventeen brass frets, so arranged as to produce a normal minor scale of two octaves and two tones. Of the three strings, one runs over the frets while two are free. These strings are led to a violin peg-box. The fretted (melody) string can be tuned to any desired pitch, the free strings (unison) sounding a related tone.
19When played, the instrument lies flat, like a zither; the melody string is "stopped" by pressing a reed, held in the left-hand, on the frets, while a long quill, held in the right-hand, serves as a plectrum. Many hold that plucking, or sweeping the strings with the fingers produces a sweeter tone.3
213 It is important to note that the latter method, in conjunction with the use of the reed (stäbchen) for "stopping" the strings, is identical with that used in playing the scheitholt. As this instrument was widely distributed throughout northern Europe, it is fair to assume that it was represented in England. If so, the origin of the Dulcimore is evident; or, a scheitholt, brought in by a German settler, may have been it's ancestor.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.