Books › The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871 › scan 18
Scan 18
The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871
9 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1We now arrive at what is supposed to be a more modern European instrument, although certainly very old—the Crwth or Crowd. Some learned authors are of opinion that those two names do not imply a synonymous instrument, but this must be left to those deeply versed in antiquarian lore. This instrument at an early date was very common throughout Wales and the Scottish Highlands, as well as in other parts of Europe. The earliest mention made of the Crwth is in the poems of Venantius Fortunatus (Book V.), who was Bishop of Poitou, where, in an address to Lupus, Duke of Champagne, he states—
3"Plaudat tibi Barbarus harpa,
4Chrotta Britanna canat."
5"Let the barbarian praise thee with the harp,
6Let the British Crwth sing."
8This reverend poet wrote about the year 560, but it is generally supposed the Crwth is of a much anterior date to this; but at the same time it must be particularly observed that this writer who thus mentions the British Crwth was an Italian, as also, that one essential and important distinguishing feature used by him to designate the style of music belonging to the Crwth, is in using the word canat, sing, thereby implying a quality in the instrument somewhat synonymous to the human voice. The word appears to be of Celtic origin, although we find a remarkable resemblance between the word Crwth and the ancient and modern Irish term cruít, signifying a harp. The distinction between those ancient musical instruments is one of the utmost difficulty, as most of the sculptured representations are
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