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Scan 209
the history of the violin, 1864
4 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 187. See the scan on archive.org.
1à Cordes et à Archet," in which he describes a new form of violin, invented by him, on strictly scientific principles, explaining his reasons at length. The shape was a trapezium, not raised or arched, the sound-holes straight, with some other peculiarities in the details. A favourable report of it was made by a select committee, to the Académies des Sciences and des Beaux-Arts, but the instrument did not get into use.
3The nineteenth century has produced many performers of first-rate talent and celebrity. In some cases, perhaps, the execution of mere mechanical difficulties has been too much relied on, but in many others, exquisite taste and expression have been joined to the most finished execution; and solo and quartett playing, with orchestral music of the highest class, may now be heard, not only at select concerts, such as the Musical Society of London, the two Philharmonic Societies, and the Musical Union, with its choice chamber-music, but at those more accessible to the general body of society, who by its extensive patronage shows how truly it appreciates the excellent music presented to it. Progress in music has fully kept pace with the progress in society. As we have before observed, several of the performers now about to be named were also known in the last century, but the greater part of their career was in the present. Among them are Yaniewicz, a Pole, distinguished for his pure tone; and Vaccari, born at Modena in 1773, whose tone was particularly sweet, with great expression. Kiesewetter, born in 1777, had great power with taste and expression; he died, unfortunately, soon after attending the Leicester Festival in 1824. He was so ill during the performance as to require to be supported to his chair; and afterwards went on to Norwich, but was too ill to play there, and died soon after his return. The committee
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