Scan 46
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 36. See the scan on archive.org.
1seen that there is no reason whatever for assuming this to have been the case.
3Some musicians, who regard the crwth as the lineal ancestor of the violin, explain the transformation of the former into the latter in this way:—
5When, in the course of time, they say, the shape of the upper part of the crwth, containing the finger-board, was found an impediment to the free movements of the hand, the frame inclosing the finger-board was removed, and thus the shape of the instrument obtained that of the violin.
7This explanation, which was first started, I believe, by Bottée de Toulmon, appears certainly, at a first glance, very plausible. It is, however, refuted by well-ascertained facts. Stringed instruments with a neck having no external surroundings were already known at a period as remote as the existence of any other stringed instrument traceable to high antiquity.
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