Books › Chats on violins, 1905 › scan 57
Scan 57
Chats on violins, 1905
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 39. See the scan on archive.org.
1was an indispensable piece of furniture in every fashionable house, where it hung up in the best chamber much as the guitar does in Spain and the violin in Italy, to be played on at will, and to fill up the void of conversation. And it is well known that Sir Andrew Aguecheek could play upon it as he spoke the languages, word for word without book!"
3Solo players of the different viols do not appear to have been over numerous. The praises of one of the earliest is sung by Boccaccio, who says Minico d'Arezzio was a great player on the viol, and much in favour with Peter of Roan, King of Sicily. This statement gives point to the supposition that the viol was first in use in Italy. It was only employed for good music as Dr Burney says: "If music for dancing was required, a servant was called in to play the bagpipe."
5In England John Jenkins, born at Maidstone in Kent, seems to have taken precedent as a viol player. This talented little man, now chiefly remembered as the author of the famous round "A boat, a boat," was evidently a small but enthusiastic person, for one of his eulogisers describes him as:
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