Scan 92
Researches into the early history of the violin family, 1883
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 82. See the scan on archive.org.
1and were probably made in imitation of a violin belonging to a Dutch Boer. They are noteworthy as exceptions, almost all the African fiddles known exhibiting an oriental character more or less resembling the rebab.
3It is, of course, quite possible that different nations may have invented the fiddle-bow entirely independent of each other. But we possess no evidence of this having been the case, while, on the other hand, indications are not wanting of its diffusion by the Arabs, and subsequently by some European nations. This question, needs, however, further elucidation. Perhaps the following step to obtain the necessary evidence for investigation may ultimately lead to some satisfactory result. A little handbook, published by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and entitled "Notes and Queries on Anthropology for the Use of Travellers and Residents in Uncivilised Lands" (London, 1874), contains, among numerous questions referring to different subjects, a list of above a hundred questions respecting the cultivation of music. As I have supplied the musical portion of this publication, it naturally has occurred to me to ask for information concerning old popular traditions or historical records about stringed instruments played with the bow, as well as to any peculiar characteristics observable in any instruments of this class which may be in use in certain countries.
5Our musical historians generally take it for granted that when the bow came into use among European nations a new instrument was constructed for the special purpose of being played with the bow. I doubt whether this has been the case in any country until the bow had attained some popularity. Even the strings of the rebab appear to have been originally twanged; at any rate, there is still a kind of rebab in use in Hindustan which is played with a plectrum, and which may reasonably be supposed to be older than the other, because its treatment is more simple and primitive. Probably it had formerly some other name; however this may be, it closely resembles the rebab of the Arabs, the name of which it bears.
7Again, the Hindus, in the present century, have contrived
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