Scan 159
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
18 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 149. See the scan on archive.org.
1of lute and viol makers—Gerle, in Nürnberg, and Tieffenbrucker, in the Tyrol—and that their Italian names, which are spelt in various ways, are corruptions of those German names. Moreover, as regards Kerlino, it appears doubtful whether he really manufactured a violin. Laborde thinks that Kerlino was a native of Brittany. As the name is not French, he conjectures that it must be Breton, just as the Egyptians suppose every European to be a Frank. As early as in the beginning of the fifteenth century, there settled in Italy some accomplished German lute-players, who were undoubtedly also viol-makers, since it was the custom to combine the two occupations. Laux Maler, residing in Bologna, about the year 1415, is still known as the most distinguished lute-maker who ever lived. No doubt he made also viols, though not violins.
3The following citations testify to the existence of the violin in England during the sixteenth century:—
5Edmund Spenser ("Shepherd's Calendar," anno 1579): one of two readings
6Edmund Spenser ("Shepherd's Calendar," anno 1579):— one of two readings
8 I see Calliope speed her to the place,
9 Where my goddesse shines:
10 And after her the other muses trace
11 With their violines.
13Ben Jonson ("St. Bartholomew Fair," about 1600): "A set of these violins I would buy too, for a delicate young noise I have in the country; they are every one a size less than another, just like your fiddles."
15Vyolons—i.e., violins—were introduced into the royal band of Queen Elizabeth during the second half of the sixteenth century; and in King Charles I.'s band, during the first half of the seventeenth century, violins were used together with viols, lutes, and other stringed instruments, in combination with recorders, hautboys, sackbuts, and other wind instruments.
17John Evelyn, in his "Diary" (London, 1662), records: "December 21st. One of his Majesty's chaplains preached; after which, instead of the ancient, grave, and solemn wind music accompanying the organ, was introduced a concert of twenty-four violins between every pause, after the French
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.