Symphonia (
Greek ) is a much-discussed word, applied at different times to the
bagpipe, the
drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...
, the
hurdy-gurdy, and finally a kind of
clavichord. The sixth of the musical instruments enumerated in
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a 2nd-century BC biblical apocalypse with a 6th century BC setting. Ostensibly "an account of the activities and visions of Daniel, a noble Jew exiled at Babylon", it combines a prophecy of history with an eschatology (a ...
, (verses 5, 10 and 15), translated "
dulcimer" in the 17th-century
King James Bible
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...
; in all probability it refers to the bagpipe.
The symphonia, signifying drum, is mentioned in
Isidore of Seville's ''Etymologiae'' under the entries for
tympanum and
sambuca
Sambuca () is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless, liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as ''white sambuca'' to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue (''black sambuca'') or bright red (''red sambuc ...
.
"Symphonia" or ''chifonie'' was applied during the 13th and 14th centuries, in the Latin countries more especially, to the hurdy-gurdy. "Symphonia" is applied by
Praetorius Praetorius, Prätorius, Prætorius was the name of several musicians and scholars in Germany.
In 16th and 17th century Germany it became a fashion for educated people named "Schulze," "Schultheiß," or " Richter" (which means "judge"), to Latinise ...
to an instrument which he classed with the clavichord,
[ cites ] spinet
A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ.
Harpsichords
When the term ''spinet'' is used to designate a harpsichord, typically what is meant is the ''bentside spinet'', described in this ...
,
regal and
virginals
The virginals (or virginal) is a keyboard instrument of the harpsichord family. It was popular in Europe during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods.
Description
A virginal is a smaller and simpler rectangular or polygonal form of ...
, but without giving any clue to its distinctive characteristics.
References
Citations
Sources
*
* {{Cite EB1911 , first = Kathleen , last=Schlesinger , wstitle = Symphonia , volume = 26 , page = 289
Lost and extinct musical instruments