Scan 113
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 103. See the scan on archive.org.
1p. 167, gives the following notations of the open strings of the gigue; but, as he does not distinctly state the century to which they refer, nor the source from which he has obtained them, I should not venture to guarantee their correctness:—
3TREBLE. ALTO. TENOR. BASS.
5The non-existence of the bridge on the nine-stringed* grosse-geige in the illustrations by Agricola, Virdung, and Luscinius is supposed by some modern antiquaries to be owing to an oversight. However, some closer investigation will probably induce the student to hesitate in accepting this opinion. Agricola especially, it might be supposed, was too experienced a musician to leave the engraving uncorrected in the second edition of his work, published in 1542, if a mistake had been made by an oversight in the first edition, which appeared in 1529. Both editions represent the grosse-geige without a bridge. No doubt, this instrument was chiefly used for producing chords serving as an accompaniment to vocal music. Hence also the frets, which enabled the player
7Fig. 26.—Grosse-geige; about anno 1500.
9* It must be understood throughout this passage that Mr. Engel means the non-existence of a violin or raised bridge. A guitar or level bridge is shown on he drawing, with the exception of the fine edge over which the strings lave their bearing; too small a detail, as was also the attachment of the strings, for the draughtsman to notice.—A. J. H.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.