Symphonia (
Greek ) is a much-discussed word, applied at different times to the
bagpipe, the
drum, the
hurdy-gurdy, and finally a kind of
clavichord. The sixth of the musical instruments enumerated in
Book of Daniel, (verses 5, 10 and 15), translated "
dulcimer" in the 17th-century
King James Bible; 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.
"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 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 is a keyboard instrument of the harpsichord family. It was popular in Europe during the Renaissance music, late Renaissance and early Baroque music, Baroque periods.
Description
A virginals is a smaller and simpler, rectangular o ...
, 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
Hurdy-gurdies
String instruments