Difference between revisions of "Dulcimer"

<p> A Hebraized [[Greek]] name, sumfonia , in Daniel 3:5; Daniel 3:15. A bagpipe, consisting of two pipes thrust through a leather bag, emitting a plaintive sound; the modern [[Italian]] zampogna . Some Greek Ionian of western [[Asia]] probably introduced the instrument into Babylon. However, Furst makes the word Semitic ("a tube".) The old spinet resembled its tone. </p>

<p> <strong> DULCIMER </strong> . This term, which denotes a <em> stringed </em> instrument (? the mediæval ‘psaltery’; see Music, § <strong> 4 </strong> ( <strong> 1 </strong> ) ( <em> b </em> )), is given incorrectly by EV [Note: English Version.] in Daniel 3:5; Daniel 3:15 as tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of <em> sumpônya </em> (Gr. loan-word), which prob. = ‘bagpipe’; see Music, § <strong> 4 </strong> (2) ( <em> d </em> ). </p>

<p> (Chald. סוּמְפֹּנַיָה, sumponyah'; Sept. συμφωνία, Vulg. symphonia), a musical instrument, not in use among the [[Jews]] of Palestine, but mentioned in Daniel 3:5; Daniel 3:15, and at Daniel 3:10 under the shorter form of סַיפֹנְיָא (syphonya', where the text correctively points סוֹּבּנְיָא ), along with several other instruments, which [[Nebuchadnezzar]] ordered to be sounded before a golden image set up for national worship during the period of the captivity of Judah. Luther translates it lute. [[Grotius]] adopts the view of Servius, who considers simphonia to be the same with the crooked trumpet (tibia obliqua, πλαγίαυλος ); he also quotes Isidore (2:22), who speaks of it as a long drum. [[Rabbi]] Saadia [[Gaon]] (Comm. on Dan.) describes the sumphonyah as the bag-pipe, an opinion adopted by the author of Schilte hag-giborim (in Ugolini Thesaur. 32:39-42; see Joel Brill's [[Preface]] to Mendelssohn's version of the Psalms), by Kircher, Bartholoccius, and the majority of Biblical critics. The same instrument is still in use among peasants in the NW of [[Asia]] and in Southern Europe, where it is known by the similar name sampogna or zampogna. With respect to the etymology of the word a great difference of opinion prevails. Some trace it to the Gr. συμφωνία (whence Eng. symphony), and Calmet, who inclines to this view, expresses astonishment that a pure [[Greek]] word should have made its way into the [[Chaldee]] tongue: it is probable, he thinks, that the instrument dulcimer (A.V.) was introduced into [[Babylon]] by some Greek or Western- Asiatic musician who was taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar during one of his campaigns on the coast of the Mediterranean. Geseniuas adopts this derivation (Thes. Hebrews page 941), and cites [[Polybius]] (ap. Athen. 10:52, page 439, ed. Casaub.) and Isidore (Orig. 3:21) in confirmation. Others regard it as a Shemitic word, and connect it with סמפן, "a tube" (Furst). The word סמפון occurs in the [[Talmud]] (Sukka, 36 a), where it evidently has the meaning of an air-pipe, with a case (Chelim, 16:8); but the explanation (Chelim, 2:6) by סנפים is not clear (Rosenmuller on Daniel 1.c.). Landau (Aruch. Art. סמפון ) considers it synonymous with siphon. Ibn Yahia, in his commentary on Daniel 3:5, renders it by אורגאנוש (ὄργανα ), organ, the well known powerful musical instrument composed of a series of pipes. Rabbi Elias, whom [[Buxtorf]] quotes (Lex. Talm. col. 1504), translates it by the German word Leier (lyre). The old-fashioned spinet, the precursor of the harpsichord, is said to have resembled in tone the ancient dulcimer. The modern dulcimer is described by Dr. Busby (Dict. of Music) as a triangular instrument, consisting of a little chest, strung with about fifty wires cast over a bridge fixed at each end; the shortest wire is 18 inches in length, the longest 36; it is played with two small hammers held in the hands of the performer. (See [[Musical Instruments]]). </p>