Addison, Joseph: Remarks on several parts of Italy: &c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703 (London: Tonson, 1718)

RO ME. 247
Modern Masick. It would perhaps be
no impertinent design to take osf all their ''
Models in Wood, which might not only
give us sorae Notion of the ancient Mu>
sick, but help us to pleasanter Instru-
ments than are now in use. By the Ap-
pearance they make in Marble, there is
not One String-Instrument that seems
comparable to our Violins, for they are
all play’d on, either by the bare Fingers,
or the Plectrum, so that they were in-
capable of adding any length to their
Notes, or of varying ’em by those in-
sensible Swellings, and wearings away of
Sound upon the same String, which give
so wonderful a Sweetness to our Modern
Musick. Besides, that the String-Instru-
ments must have had very low and feeble
Voices, as may be guess’d from the small
Proportion of Wood about ’em, which
could not contain Air enough to render
the Strokes, in any considerable mea-
sure, full and sonorous. There is a great
deal of difference in the Make, not only
of the several kinds of Instruments, but
even among those of the same Name.
ThtSyrmga, for Example, hassometimes
Four, and sometimes more Pipes, as high
as to Twelve. The same Variety os
Strings may be observed on their Harps,
and of Stops on their 'Tibia, which fliows
M 4 the