Books › The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871 › scan 17
Scan 17
The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1outline resembling a guitar, but which may certainly be excluded from the violin species, as there is every probability for supposing that no bow instrument was known in Egypt at such an early period. The Fidla of the Icelanders was a rudely fashioned instrument, having six wires or strings of brass or copper, whilst the Langspel and Sumphion were of a similar construction, the former having four and sometimes five brass or copper strings, with a fretted finger-board beneath. All those instruments were in use in Iceland from an early date, but are now almost extinct. The Gue was an early musical instrument in use amongst the Shetlanders, along with another species of violin having two horse hair strings, which probably was derived from Iceland or Norway, and which was performed upon in a manner resembling that of the violoncello. The Guhue is an instrument of rude construction used in Africa, having five hair strings. This instrument is sometimes used as a guitar, at other times played upon by a bow, as custom or fancy may dictate. Another instrument, somewhat similar in form to the Guhue, is also used in some parts of Africa, having a large single string formed from a number of twisted hairs, and having two holes cut in the breast, which is a piece of skin stretched over part of the instrument. Such are a few of the earliest bow instruments, some of which are supposed to have been in use from a very remote period, as the Ravanastron of India has been traditionally ascribed to have been known there several thousands of years anterior to the birth of Christ.
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