Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-31

William v. Pezzoni has on exhibition
in a window in Brooklyn a lutte that is
lie years old. 1t is said to be the only
one of its kind in existence. From a
printed strip of paper in the interior of
the instrument it is learned that it was
made by Renault & Chatelain of prague
street, Paris, in 1871.
The lutte is as old rs the hills. 1t is
mentioned several times in the Bible.
Jubal, said by historians to have been
the first musician, was the inventor of
it, as he was of the organ and all string
instruments. He fiourished about l 800
years before the deluge and was the first
to observe that strings of different sizes
or lengths when stretched produced va
rious sounds.
In the earliest ages of Egypt instru-
ments having the same general form rs
the harp, Tyre and guitar of modern times
were common. as the discoveries of trav-
elers in that country have proved. The
ancients had many other stringed instru-
ments, but these three classes were the
principal ones.
The Tyre is supposed to be more ancient
than the harp. \ very old painting at
Beni-Hassan in Egypt represents the ar
rival of some foreigners in that country
supposed to be Joseph's brethren. One
of them holds q Tyre having four strings
The guitar is an Improvement ON the
Tyre. 1t is seldom found sculptured in
the monuments of Greece and Rome,
as the people did not consider the in
strument sufficiently dignified to so
symbolize it, which accounts for its not
appearing III the ruins of those proud
cities. 1t was, however, one Of the most
ancient musical instruments of Egypt.
.Some historians are of the opinion that
Hermes, one of the Egyptian councillors.
invented the three stringed Tyre. These
strings gave forth three sounds-grave,
mean ard acute-representing respect
lively winter, spring and summer. The
Egyptians and the Greeks, as is well
known, divided the year only into three
seasons.
The Int was adopted by the Arabs
from Persia and reached the west about
the time of the crusaders. In the psalms
Of David 1t Is spoken of as the mahha-
Hath. and it is said to have been used by
the children of Israel III their rejoi cings
after the overthrow OF Pharaoh's host.
The modern Egyptian Lutte is direct
descendant of the Arabic Lutte Ii has
seven pairs of strings and is played by i
plectrum. When frcts are employed,
they are disposed Of according to the
Arabic scale Of IL intervals in the oc-
tave. consisting of II liminas-an in
|
There are also five commds. which are
very small, hut quite recognizable Us
regards difference of pitch.
The large double ncclSel lutte has two
sets of tuning pegs, the lower set for the
finger board and the higher for the diapa-
son strings. This style lutte was known
as the theorbo. its height varied from 3
feet inches to ) feet. Very deep notes
were produced from it. Another Lutte
somewhat differently formed was known
as the archlute. Both have. however. lcnc
since gwen away to the vioioncello and
double bass. Handel wrote a part for O
theorbo il l.20. After this date the lutte
appears no more iii orchestral scores. Ii
remained, however, in private use Until
the close of the century
Nenere of Pr iua. celebrated as maker
of lutes. four:shel in 1860. His instru
ments Were highly ornamental and were
admired for their beauty, ivory. mother
Of pearl and tortoise shell being used il
decorating them. The present direction
of musical taste and composition is adj
verse to the cultivation of such tenderly
sensitive timber as the lutte possessed
The instrument has row become an OBJ
ject Of research for collections and mu
seums. II was favorite instrument ot
music in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries. but declined in the eighteenth
century. The great j. 5. Bach wrote :
partita for it, which still remains il
manuscript. The latest engraved publi
cation for the lutte is 1850.
Mr.. Pezyoni was placed in the posses
sion of the lutte short time ago b,
Signor Giuseppe Vitale. prominent
Brooklyn musician, who obtained it at
pawnbroker' sale. 1t is very valuable
instrument. although it was sadly il
need of repair when it came into Mr.. PEI
zonis hands. he has been offered sum:
for it varying from IS to $500. but it i.
not for sale
The lutte Is handsome one. The body
is pear shaped. 1t is beautifully inlait
with ivory and pearl. The neck is .
inches long. The fingerboard, containin:
1. frets. is l2A inches long, and the body
with a three inch sound hole. is 10
inches long. The base Of the instrument
is ~ inches deep. while at the neck it il
. inches. 1t has 10 strings. s of which
are designed for the bass. The head. o.
nut. is divided intotw sections and con
tains the pegs. or keys. One of thes,
sections is II inches long and the othel
II inches. The latter is used for tn,
open bass strings. which are above ant
independent of the fingerboard. Fou!
of the middle strings are double and ar,
formed from very fine wire The re
manning strings are of silk wound Will
copper wire-New York World.