Scan 31
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 21. See the scan on archive.org.
1wire which are placed beneath the former. Its accordatura is thus:—
3Catgut strings.
5Wire strings.
7There are varieties of this instrument in use in Turkey, and by some of the tribes in Caucasia.
9The fiddle-bow has experienced so many alterations, in the course of time that an account of them would require much space. As the discussion would probably interest but a few ardent antiquaries, the following remarks only are offered.
11Most of the bows used by Asiatic nations are contrived so that the tension is fixed. They are, indeed, but poor relations of our violin-bow. Those used by the Hindus are generally less curved than those of most other Asiatic nations; but they are often extremely rude, the hair being drawn through a hole at the upper end of the stick, and secured by a knot, and being fastened at the lower end of the stick by means of a little band, which is simply wound round the wood. The bow of the Chinese urheen is nearly semi-circular and of a very rude construction, consisting of a cane bent by horsehair, which is fastened to each end. The bow of the Japanese kokiu exhibits an improvement, inasmuch as the tension can be increased or slackened by means of a cord which is attached to the lower end of the horsehair, and is wound round the stick. The bow of the rebab constructed by the Arab-Egyptians has generally an iron ring at the lower end of the stick, to which the hair is attached, so that it can be tightened or slackened by means of a band of leather. Probably the bow of the rebab brought to Europe by the Arabs was not more ingeniously constructed. At any rate, that of the rebab used at the present day by the Arab descendants in Morocco is such a simple contrivance; however, it is semi-circular in shape, and is not unfrequently embellished with some incisions and designs in colour.
13The hair used for the bow by most of the extra-European nations is black horsehair. This colour is probably preferred
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