Rebec
The Rebec , also known as rebeck, rebecke, rebekke , is a forerunner of today's violin as a small violin and probably came to Central Europe via Spain in the 10th century or in the High Middle Ages . Like the numerous string instruments between North Africa and Southeast Asia, their name goes back to the Arabic root rbb . The shape is similar to the Afghan neck lute rubab , but differs from the Turkish spit lute rebap . Originally, the instrument had 1–3 strings in fifths (g, d`, a`). The Rebec of the 16th and 17th centuries has no frets .
Number of strings and tuning
The number of strings varies from one to five, with three being the most common. Often they are in fifths z. B. d 'a' e ". The tone range is mostly in the soprano or treble . There were also larger copies in the 17th century, so that there were pieces for Rebec consorts, similar to violas.
shape
The body is usually pear-shaped, but can also be flat and similar to a violin.
use
The fact that the Rebec was not supposed to have been an instrument of the higher ranks and that minstrels only "played to dance" is a common prejudice that arises from the history of the reception of the instrument in the 20th century. The opposite is the case: the music theorist of the 15th century Johannes Tinctoris gives the Rebec priority over other instruments of his time and suggests that it should only be used for sacred music . a. indicates that it must at least have been very widespread and recognized in higher strata.
“My instruments are the viola and the rebecum. Mine, I say, because through them my spirit rises to the affect of piety and because they most intensely stimulate my heart to contemplate heavenly joys. That is why I would rather use them for holy things and for the mysterious consolations of the mind than for profane celebrations. "
Instruments with similar names or types
- Rababa , one to two-stringed box-shaped fiddle in Arabic folk music
- Rabeca , three or four string violin of Portuguese origin in Brazil
- Rabel (shepherd's violin), two or three-string violin of Spanish origin
- Robeke, also called mbeka , single-stringed strings from the Indonesian island of Flores
- Kemençe in the Black Sea region, including Lyra called
- Gadulka in Bulgaria
- Dran-nye or Dramyin in the Himalayan region
- Qanbus in Yemen
- Dance master violin
literature
- Mary Remnant: Rebec, Fiddle and Crowd in England. In: Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association, 95th Sess. Taylor & Francis, 1968-1969, pp. 15-28.
Web links
- Paul Butler: The Rebec Project. Rutgers University , October 21, 2003 (English, history, pictures, construction).
- Gudrun Petruschka: Rebec. (mp3 audio, 3.2 MB, 3:13 minutes) In: BR-Klassik broadcast “Keyword - Lexicon of Early Music”. October 6, 2019 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Katrin Anita Svoboda: "Life, Work and Music of the Schrammel Brothers", Chapter 2.1.1. Historical outline ac.uk, page 33