Scan 34
The violin & its story : or the history & construction of the violin, 1905
6 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 20. See the scan on archive.org.
1opportunities of exhibiting their powers, as in summer they were in great demand for tournaments, in winter for assemblies of ladies, dances, and other merrymakings; even the songs sung at these gatherings were accompanied by instruments, while the dancers footed it around at the same time. These blithe wandering players for a long period held sway at the tournaments, as well as at the feasts in the halls of the nobles, while dry and learned musicians laboured heavily on in the footsteps of Hucbald, Guido, and Franco of Cologne.
3It would appear that musicians formed themselves into corporate guilds much earlier in France than in Germany. Philip the Magnificent, as early as 1235, elevated to the rank of "Roi de Ribauds" one Charmilion, of the town of Troyes, "on account of his talents in violin-playing." In Paris, in 1330, a society was constituted by the name of the "Brothers of St. Julien of the Minstrels"; and on the 23rd of November in that same year, by which time they were established on a proper footing, they selected St. Genest, a Roman juggler, who was converted to Christianity and suffered martyrdom under Diocletian, as their patron saint and presiding genius under the title of "King of the Minstrels." The entire brotherhood dwelt in one street, which was called after them the "Street of St. Julien of the Minstrels." A later president of this Brotherhood styled himself "King of the Fiddlers." The Brotherhood would seem to have been filled with an unquenchable desire to extend their powers, and in later days sought to bring organists, and even dancing-masters, under their control and domination. This overweening greed of power led ultimately to their downfall, though it was not until 1773 that this powerful guild was at length disbanded by the King's command.
5In Germany similar guilds were formed, some of which have survived to modern days. There existed certain high officials who controlled all sports and amusements, and whose jurisdiction extended not only over the largest towns, but sometimes over entire provinces. The powers of these officials were bestowed upon them by the King,
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