Scan 53
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1884
6 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1Rebab was taken to Spain by the Moors "from whence it passed to Italy, and obtained the appellation of Ribeca." He also refers to a work entitled, "Shaw's Travels," in which mention is made of the Rebeb or Rebab as an instrument common in the East in the eighteenth century. It is, however, upon turning to the dissertation on the invention and improvement of stringed instruments by John Gunn, published in 1793, that we first find a lucid account of Eastern influence in connection with bowed instruments.*
3The author refers to the monochord as the invention of the Arabians: he then says, "the early acquaintance which it is probable the Egyptians had of the science and practice of music, was the source whence the Arabians might derive their knowledge. There is a remarkable correspondence between the dichord of the Egyptians and an instrument of the like number of strings of the Arabians. This instrument was played with a bow, and was probably introduced into Europe by the Arabians of Spain, and well known from the Middle Ages down to the last century by the name of the Rebec; it had probably on its first introduction only two strings, as it still has among the Moors, and soon after had the number increased
5* It may be remarked that nineteen years prior to the publication of John Gunn's dissertation was published the valuable work of Martinus Gerbertus, "De Cantu et Musicâ Sacrâ," dated 1774. The volumes of Gerbertus were evidently perused with care and attention by Gunn. The references of John Gunn to the work are the earliest I have met with.
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