Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-12-02
MUSIC OF EARLY MAN.
UNIQUE COLLECTION OF MU-
SiCAL INSTRUMENTS.
Rsnsacked Europe and America to Sc
cure the Finest and Most Com
pietc Collection Ever
Gathered Together.

One OF the most interesting features
OF the worlds fair will be the collec-
tion OF musical instruments which
will illustrate the growth OF art di-
vine from the time OF the Chaldeans
down to the present day. Secretary
/ Wilson OF the Bureau OF Music while
in Europe recently arranged with
the owners OF many antiquities
for the loan OF their treasurer ac-
cording to the Chicago Inter Ocean.
1t Is unanimously agreed upon by
antiquarians that the first known in
struments were made OF percussion
the untutored ear being reader TO
perceive rythmical accentuation than
variations OF pitch From this theory
the deduction may be safely ventured
that the first music mado by the
| aborigines was by the clapping of
band and the stamping OF feet which
theory If granted. by evolution gives
rise TO the cymba.
Cymbals are mentioned in various
portions OF the Old Testament by
Solomon and Daniel. and are described
in the epics OF Homer-particula
mention being made in the hymn to
Apollo OF cymbal5 played on by
chorus of Delians The scabilla be-
longs TO the same class and are de-
scribed as inserted in the shoes of the
performer used by Grecian flute
players probably to beat time. The
cymbals to be exhibited at the fair
will comprise specimens in the origi-
nal. and the reproductions OF those
used in the Bacchic orgies at Rome
and in the worship of Cybele and Juno
in Greece. One pair of the instru-
ments was brought from Etruria by
the Tro!a and was found in the ex-
cavating of Hercuaneum.
Under this head the systrum also
belongs it being mystical instru-
ment used by the Egyptians in the
worship OF Isis and also supposed 10
have been used 10 call together
troops as is the modern kettle drum.
The systrum is obsolete Probably
the one formerly belonging to the
library at - Genvefre in Paris Is the
only instrument OF this character now
in existence. 1t will be brought from
Paris with the conservatory collec-
ton.
One OF the most interesting exhib-
its will be the collection OF harps
Tyres and the organ in various stages
of development This collection rep
resents much study and time. and is
very exhaustive. 1t includes instru-
ments from all the nations OF ancient
history and was gathered from tho
various museums OF France. Germany
and England for the Wien exposition.
AS date and order OF the invention
OF these instruments Is purely mat
ter OF conjecture reproductions of
many have been rendered necessary
for the purposes OF completing an ex-
hibit and will be made from the most
authentic sources obtainable.
This collection goes back 10 the
first mention OF musical instruments
as found in the fourth chapter OF
Genesis: 'Jubal. he was the father
OF all such as handle the harp or
organ" Genesis iv.. 21).
The phraseology OF this sentence
does not indicate the order OF time in
which the harp or organ was invented.
The harp mentioned is probably
synonymous with tho Tyre or lyra
which is acknowledged to be OF Ash
attic invention.
Tubars organ" must be closely
allied to the sprinx the invention OF
which and the theory Of wind instru-
ments are described by OVID.
Many specimens OF Hebrew. Assyri-
an and Egyptian handiwork will be-
shown at the fair. This portion or
the collection will be particularly
large aud certainly OF great interest.
The British collection. which is to
be brought to the fair contains col
lection OF violins and other instru-
ments OF that family from the rebec
to the most noted productions OF the
Cremona artisana who lourished in
the seventeenth century. The rebee
was undoubtedly the parent OF tho
viol AID violin. also OF tie once FASH
ion bio but now absolete viol de gam
ba. The latter day violoncello is the
offspring OF The gambia.
The rebec is the originator OF all
this class of Instruments and it is
said TO be OF Arabic origin. In general
form il resembles tho mandolin. 1t
had three strings and emitted a sound
both loud and marsh. 1t was chiefly
used however in orchestral accom-
paniments to dancing.
Pretty Old Woman.
At an entertainment in London for