Rabāb Ash-Sha'ir

Unknown

19th century · Wood, parchment · Musical Instruments

Rabāb Ash-Sha'ir ("poet's fiddle") with 1 string, add a 2nd string and it is known as rabāb al-mughannī ("singer's fiddle"). These terms, used in Egypt for this 4-sided bowed lute, have lost their distinction and today the rabāba is the name in use. Most bowed lutes are constructed as spike fiddles with a wood or metal rod that penetrates the frame of the soundbox and terminates in a spike that rests on the ground when the instrument is bowed. Syria.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Wood, parchment

Culture

Syrian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889