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Scan 171
the history of the violin, 1864
6 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 149. See the scan on archive.org.
1says, "But, Auditus, when shall we hear a new set of singing-books? or the viols? or the concert of instruments?" and afterwards, "Come, come, Auditus, shall we hear thee play the lyre-way or the lute-way, shall we?" Daniel Farrant, towards the beginning of the century, was one of the first who set lessons for the viol lyra-way.
3That amusing writer Pepys was in the habit of frequenting musical parties as well as the theatres, where his flirtations with Mrs. Knipps and others, render it not surprising that he was occasionally obliged to keep his wife in good humour by the present of some piece of finery. He was also himself a practised musician on the lute, violin, viol, and flageolet, besides being able to sing at sight. He seems to have had a tolerable estimate of his own skill (a habit of thinking not yet obsolete). On 21st Nov. 1660, he says, "At night to my viallin (the first time that I have played on it since come to this house), in my dining roome, and afterwards to my lute there, and I took much pleasure to have the neighbours come forth into the yard to hear me." Dec. 3rd. "Rose by candle, and spent my morning in fiddling till time to go to the office." He occasionally favoured his wife with his music, to solace her domestic labours, which, according to the Diary, frequently consisted of those little artistic re-arrangements of dress so well known to ladies. 12th April, 1669, "Home, and after sitting a while, thrumming upon my viall, and singing, I to bed, and left my wife to do something to a waistcoat and petticoat she is to wear to-morrow."
5He was not, however, satisfied with being a mere practical musician, but aspired to improving the theory, for on the 20th of March, 1668, he was "All the evening pricking down some things, and trying some
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