CHAPTER 3: History to 1800

3.5 The Baroque, Rococo and Classical Periods 1600-1800

3.5.1 The west

1.3. The Middle Class in the 17th & 18th centuries: England and the Colonies- 6 of 7

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Several references from the latter part of the 18th century make it clear that the dulcimers were played and sold, and were familiar even to members of the gentry: Shaw (1768 - see below), Burney (diary 1772), and Hawkins (General History 1776), mention the familiar home-grown dulcimer as a reference-point when discussing the activities of foreigners:

(On the occasion when he inspected the Pantaleone quoted in full above)
"The tone was produced by two little baguettes or sticks, like the dulcimer ..." (139)

"The instrument first above spoken of, as exhibited by Mersennus, is in truth no other than that common instrument known by the name of Dulcimer". (140)

On a more practical level, there are dulcimer suppliers in two trade publications from the 1760s. Mortimer's London Universal Directory for 1763 lists among the "musical instrument-makers" (a use of the hyphen which today would indicate musical makers of instruments rather than makers of musical instruments):

"HINTZ, Frederick. Guitar-maker to her Majesty and the Royal Family; makes Guittars, Mandolins, Viols de l'Amour, Viols de Gamba, Dulcimers, Solitaires, Lutes, Harps, Cymbals, the Trumpet Marine, and the Æolian Harp. The Corner of Ryder's court, Leicester-fields. (141)

Thibault et al. give a little supplementary information, that Hintz anglicised his name to Hinds, and was active between 1740 and 1776. Some idea of the instrument's currency may be gained from the facts that of the 31 makers listed, only Hintz mentioned dulcimers, and that even for him it was only one of 11 lines, many of which were presumably subsidiary to the guitars for which he had Royal patronage. Perhaps one may be permitted the frivolity of wondering if he ever tried to interest George III in a dulcimer. The Solitaire listed along with the dulcimer is not mentioned by Marcuse (1964), and one may also wonder if the cymbals were hurdy-gurdies, as they were to James Talbot, to the author of the Harley MS, and perhaps Dr. Power.

The second trade reference is in a list of instruments and accessories printed at the end of The Compleat Tutor for the Flute (142) , published c.1765 by:

"Robert Bremner, Harp & Hautboy, opposite Somerset House, Strand... of whom may be had the following Goods Wholesale Or Retale.

Harpsichords Spinnet s Clavichords Lyrichords Violins all Prices Tenor Violins Violoncellos Viol de Gambols Double Basses French Horns Trumpets Kittle Drums Mando lines Trumpet Marines Bassoons German Flute in Ivory Ditto in Ebony Ditto in Cocoa and Box Wood Small German Flutes Hautboys and Clarinets Tolliard or Tenor Hautboys Bird Organs Barrel Organs all sizes English Flutes all sizes Pipes and Tabors Fifes for the Army Bird Flutes and Flagelets Guitars several sorts Pitch Pipes several sizes Harpsichord Hammers Italian Strings for Violins Tenors, Basses and Harps

Crow and Raven Quills Wire for Harpsichords Little Violins and Kits Rosin Boxes Mutes or Sardines French Horn Mouth Pieces German Flute ditto Pens to rule Music Paper Ruled Books all sizes Ruled Paper all sorts Violoncello Bows pillar'd or plane Ditto with screws Violin Bows pillar's or plane Ditto with screws Bows for small Violins & Kits Bridges for Kits, Violins, Tenors, Viol de Gambols and Basses Pegs or Pins for ditto Tail Pieces for ditto Harpsichord Hinges and Locks Spinnet ditto Bagpipes Scotch or Irish Dulcemores Aeolean Harps Welch Harps Bassoon and Hautboy Reeds Reed Cases Desks for Harpsichord or Spinnet Violin Cases Tenor ditto Cases for Violoncellos Ditto for Guitars, etc. N.B. Harpsichords & Spinnets let out.