THE V I O LIN AND ITS MUSIC, GEORGE HART, "HE VIOLIN: ITS ...

THE VIOL GOTHIC.
superiority turns wholly on shape and form, and
there is no question but the Mastersingers' Viol of
Durer's time was more highly developed than either
that of I taly or France at the same period ; and
being so we have every reason to assume that
Germany possessed Viol writings earlier than
those nations, but that accident has deprived. us
of them.
According to Hawkins, the earliest intimation of
instrumental music in parts, is contained in a book
written by a Spanish Dominican in I 5 70, named
Thomas a Sancta Maria, the title of which is " Arte
de tanner fantasia para tecla, viguela y tode instrumendo
de tres 0 quatre ordenes."
Later research has brought to light a German
work dated half a century earlier. Schmid, in his
work on Petrucci, describes this curious book as
written by Hans J udenklinig, of Vienna, and published
there in 152 3 by Hans Syngriner : the text is
in German and Latin, the music consisting of little
symphonies, songs, and dances. with tablature for
Lute and Violin (Geygen) in separate parts. It has
the following title :-" Ain schone K unstliche U nderweisung
in diesem Bucchlein, leychtlich zu begreyffen,
den rechten Grund zu lernen auff der
Lautten und Geygen."
I regard this book as a hy which opens the way
to the birthplace of the instrument mainly concerned
in these pages-the Violin. On its title-page we
have probably the earliest mention of the Geygen