Scan 162
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 152. See the scan on archive.org.
1RETROSPECT.
3In order to render this essay more useful, I shall conclude it with a brief recapitulation of the facts which I believe to be irrefutable. I feel all the more induced to add this condensed retrospect, since several of my propositions are entirely different from those which have been advanced by previous writers on the history of our instruments played with a bow. Having carefully stated the reasons for my opinions, I must leave it to the judgment of the unbiassed reader to pronounce the verdict, "proven" or "not proven."
51. Almost all European musical instruments have their prototypes in Asia; and many of them had formerly names which indicate their oriental origin.
72. The fiddle-bow was introduced into Europe by the Arabs in the beginning of the eighth century.
93. The earliest European instrument played with a bow was made after the model of the rebab of the Arabs, and it obtained the names rebeck, rebel, ribible, &c. Subsequently, the European nations applied the bow to several of their instruments, the strings of which they previously twanged.
114. The strings of the Roman fidicula were struck or twanged; and the same was originally the case with all the early members of the violin family.
135. The lyre with a convex back, called by the ancient Greeks chelys, and by the Romans testudo, was known in Central, Western, and Northern Europe, where it was called chrotta, cruth, hrotte, rotte, &c. Before the eighth century its strings were twanged, afterwards the bow was occasionally applied to it.
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