Books › The violin, how to make it, 1880 › scan 12
Scan 12
The violin, how to make it, 1880
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 6. See the scan on archive.org.
1European 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,
4 Chrotta Britanna canat."
6 "Let the barbarian praise thee with the harp,
7 Let the British Crwth sing."
9This 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 much defaced, and little care bestowed sometimes in the cutting of them. From decayed relics, monumental sculptures, ancient manuscripts, and other documents, we learn the form and construction of the ancient Crwth. In the writings of Montfauçon, a picture is given of a five-stringed Violin, which is represented in the hands of a player, this drawing having been copied from a monumental statue upon the church of Notre Dame in Paris. This statue is supposed to have been sculptured about the same period as that in which Venantius Fortunatus wrote, but this is doubtful. Of the Crwth there have been different kinds, the most ancient having had three strings, whilst the number subsequently was increased to six. One distinguishing feature between the Crwth and Viol, is in the almost equal
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