Books › Notice of Anthony Stradivari, the celebrated violin-maker, known by the name of Stradivarius:, 1864 › scan 28
Scan 28
Notice of Anthony Stradivari, the celebrated violin-maker, known by the name of Stradivarius:, 1864
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1the strings rest. The bridge, over which they pass at the other end, is exactly like that of the ravanastron. The bow, which is longer than that of the latter instrument, is also made of a light bamboo, which forms the curved part. At its upper end is a slit in which the hank of hair is fixed; but, instead of being fastened by a rush string at the other end, it passes through a hole in the bamboo, and is there stayed by a knot.
3If we compare the omerti with the Arabian instrument called kemângeh à gouz (from kemán, a bow, and káh, pronounced guiáh, place; that is to say, place of the bow, or bow-instrument), we shall immediately perceive that the Indian instrument has furnished the model for that of Arabia. The expression à gouz signifies ancient; from whence it follows that kemângeh à gouz answers to ancient bow-instrument, or primitive bow-instrument. The lexicons translate كمانجه, kemângeh, by viol. Villoteau remarks that this word is Persian*. Now, ancient Persia was contiguous to India on the east, and the relations of these two great countries are apparent throughout history. I affirm that it is impossible to forget the omerti in the kemângeh à gouz; a mere glance at the latter being sufficient to reveal their identity. The body of both instruments is formed of a cocoa-nut shell, with one-third part cut off; openings are made in the body of the kemângeh, as in that of the omerti, for putting the exterior air into communication with that which is contained in the instrument; the only differ-
5* Description historique, technique, et littéraire des instruments de musique des Orientaux, in the great Description de l’Egypte, tome xiii, p. 290, of the 8vo edition.
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