symphonia
{{Short description|Word used for various musical instruments}}
{{About|an ancient musical instrument}}
Symphonia (Greek {{lang|el|συμφωνία}}) is a much-discussed word, applied at different times to the bagpipe, the drum, the hurdy-gurdy, and finally a kind of clavichord. The sixth of the musical instruments enumerated in Book of Daniel, {{bibleverse|Daniel|3|KJB}} (verses 5, 10 and 15), translated "dulcimer" in the 17th-century King James Bible; in all probability it refers to the bagpipe.{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911|p=289}}
The symphonia, signifying drum, is mentioned in Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae under the entries for tympanum and sambuca.{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911|p=289}}
"Symphonia" or chifonie was applied during the 13th and 14th centuries, in the Latin countries more especially, to the hurdy-gurdy. "Symphonia" is applied by Praetorius to an instrument which he classed with the clavichord,{{harvnb|Schlesinger|1911|p=289}} cites {{harvnb|Praetorius|1618|pages=72, 73, 179}} spinet, regal and virginals, but without giving any clue to its distinctive characteristics.{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911|p=289}}
References
= Citations =
{{Reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite book |last = Praetorius |first = Michael |author-link = Michael Praetorius |title = Syntagma Musicum: De organographia |publisher = Wolfenbüttel |year=1618 |volume=2 |pages = 72, 73, 179 |language=Latin}}
- {{Cite EB1911 |first = Kathleen |last=Schlesinger |wstitle = Symphonia |volume = 26 |page = 289 }}