Scan 68
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 58. See the scan on archive.org.
1Musik," Vol. ii., p. 232) quotes a poem written by Emil Deschamps, about the year 1400, in which this extraordinary spelling occurs:—
3 Rubebes, leuths, vielles, syphonie,
4 Psalterions trestous instrumens coys,
5 Rothes, guiterne, flaustres, chaleonie.
7Again, Fétis says of the lyre (kithara) that it has never been in use with any Germanic nation, and, consequently, that the Anglo-Saxons could not have possessed it. In reply to this assertion it may be observed that the lyre occurs in Anglo-Saxon illustrations, which will presently be noticed.
9Furthermore, Fétis states that in France the rote was played until the tenth century without a bow. This is only what might be expected to have been the case.
11What was the shape of the French rote? Did it resemble the German rotte? In answer to these questions, it must be remembered that the shape of the instrument did not remain exactly the same in different centuries and countries. Besides, there is every reason to surmise that of the French rote, as well as of the German rotte, several varieties existed at the same time. A six-stringed rote, of which an engraving is here given, is depicted on a sculpture in the Cathedral of Amiens.
13This representation, which is stated to date from the thirteenth century, is especially noteworthy, inasmuch as the convex back of the instrument is distinctly shown. The similarity of the soundholes with those of the violin might convey the impression that their original shape has been altered by the hand of some modern restorer; however, the circumstance of the interesting antiquity being a sculpture, and not a painting, must satisfy on this point the most sceptical inquirer. M. de Coussemaker and some other musical historians call this instrument crout. Very likely it was designated thus as well as by the term rote. I shall presently endeavour to show that both these names had
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