A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. IV. Improvements in Musick.

IN Musick it would be too tedious to determine, Whether the Improvement or Alteration hath been greater: Certain it is, That several old English Instruments are laid aside, as the Or∣pharian, the Polyphone, an Instrument surely not to be despised, considering its rare Structue, and the esteem had of it by Learned, and therefore most Judiciously Musical Persons of this Age, viz. Sir F. Pruscan, and Dr. Rugely, The Bandore, the Ghittern, Cittern, &c. The Treble Viol also is much out of Doors, since the Violin came so much in request, The Base, and Lira Viol, in the making whereof, Wroth was, without dispute, the best Workman that ever wrought, keep pretty well in repute, especially the first, because it cannot be wanted well in Con∣sert, &c.

1. The Lute is not wholly laid aside, but within this 20 or 30 Years much neglected, to what it was formerly, notwithstanding the great Improvement of this Instrument among us, within a hundred Years, by reason of the diversity of Tunings received from France, some of whose best Lute-Masters brought over not only these Harp-Tunings, but themselves also, and by their active Hands, and airy Fancies, obliged the Musick-Lovers of our Nation, with Transcendant Harmony.

2. The Fine easie Ghittar, whose Performance is soon gained, at least after the brushing way, hath at this present over-topt the noble Lute. Nor is it to be denied, but that after the pinching way, the Ghittar makes some good work.

3. The Theorbo, which is no other than an Arch-Lute, keeping to the old Tuning, is

still generally made use of in Consorts. And there are yet some among the Judicious, who think it the most agreeable and becoming Associate to Vocal Musick.

The Organ hath been wonderfully advanced of late Years, by the addition of several Me∣lodious Stops.

5. The Harpsicon is of late mightily Improved, by the Invention of the Pedal, which brings it so near to the Organ, that it only seems to come short of it in Lungs.

6. Here may not be unfitly mentioned, that Musical Automaton (a kind of Harpsicon) which by a Clockwork-motion discharges a certain set number of Tunes, according as it is would up to this or that Tune Of this sort of Automata there is to be seen a very neat Piece of Art, of Reed-work, at a House at St. Mary-Overs-Dock, the Artificer thereof, Mr. Tho. Hill, of Westminster. His Pitch-Pipe, for the Tuning of Musical Instruments to Consort; which is particularly worthy note for exactness, variety, and curious Work, above any thing that is to be seen elsewhere of this Nature.

7. The Harp is increased in repute; and though the Welsh Gut-string formerly gave place to the Irish Wire-string, now the Spanish Gut-string comes up with it.

8. The Violin is now arrived to a great Perfection of Performance.

9. The Flagiolet within this 20 or 30 Years, and since that the Flute, have been highly in vogue, and frequented in use. Present State Eng. Part 3. p. 90. &c.

10. In Musick, to pass by a Harpsecord that I met with at Sir Tho. Penystons, with Cat's Gut-string; it hath been lately observed here at Oxford, that though Viol, or Lute-strings, rightly Tuned, do affect one another, yet most of them do it not in all places alike, as has till now been supposed: For if the lesser of two Octaves be touched with the Hand or Bow, each half of the Greater will answer it, but will stand still in the middle; and if the greater of the two Octaves, be touched on either of its halves, all the lesser will answer it, but if touched on the middle, the lesser will not stir, &c. Dr. Plot's Nat. Hist. Oxfordsh. c. 9. p. 288. Dr. Marsh hath offered a Solution of this Phaenomenon in all its cases. Concerning which, vide Ibid.

One Hooper of Oxford, could so close his Lips, as to fing an Octave at the same time. And I know, saith Dr. Plot, two other Persons now living here, that can do it, though their Lips be set in that posture, yet they shut them so close, that they can by no means pronounce any thing articulate. But he that excells them all, and indeed to a miracle, is one Mr. Jos. Dring, a young Gentleman of Har-Hall, who sings a Song articulately, ore Patulo, and all in Octaves, so very strongly, and yet without much straining, that he equals, if not excells the loudest Organ. He performs it in the lower part of his Throat, and it came casually on him at first, upon over-straining of his Voice. Ibid.