Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 274

Scan 274

the history of the violin, 1864

6 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 252. See the scan on archive.org.

1This maker will again be alluded to in connection with his partner, Nathaniel Cross.
3The violin-proper was known in England some years before it became the favourite in "good society;" and although we find it in the band of Queen Elizabeth, yet it was generally associated with wakes, revels, and other noisy merry-makings; but on Charles II. introducing his band of twenty-four violins, the instrument rose in estimation, much to the annoyance and great grief of the author of "Musick's Monument," that the noble and brave lute, also the majestic theorbo, should be "over top'd with squaling-scoulding fiddles" (p. 204). Again, in alluding to "those choice consorts" of his period (p. 236), and the great pleasure those performances gave both to the listeners and performers, which he states made "the musick lovely and contentive," he then makes further remarks: "But now the modes and fashions have cry'd these things down, and set up a great idol in their room; observe with what a wonderful swiftness they now run over their brave new ayres; and with what high priz'd noise, viz. 10, or 20 violins, &c. as I said before, to some single soul'd ayre; it may be of 2 or 3 parts, or some coronto, seraband, or brawle, (as the new fashion'd word is) and such like stuff, seldom any other; which is rather fit to make a man's ears glow, and fill his brains full of frisks, &c. than to season, and sober his mind, or elevate his affections to goodness. Now I say, let these new fashion'd musicks, and performances, be compar'd with those old ones, which I have before made mention of; and then let it be judg'd, whether they have not left a better fashion, for a worse. But who shall be the judges? If themselves; then all's right."
5Yet he cannot withstand recommending the intruder,

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