Dulcimer
DULCIMER
Dan 3:5,10, an instrument of music, which the rabbins describe as a sort of bagpipe, composed of two pipes connected with a leathern sack, and of a harsh, screaming sound. The modern dulcimer is an instrument of a triangular form, strung with about fifty wires, and struck with an iron key while lying on the table before the performer. See MUSIC.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Dulcimer
(Chald. , sumponyah’; Sept. , Vulg. symphonia), a musical instrument, not in use among the Jews of Palestine, but mentioned in Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15, and at Dan 3:10 under the shorter form of (syphonya’, where the text correctively points ), along with several other instruments, which Nebuchadnezzar ordered to be sounded before a golden image set up for national worship during the period of the captivity of Judah. Luther translates it lute. Grotius adopts the view of Servius, who considers simphonia to be the same with the crooked trumpet (tibia obliqua, ); he also quotes Isidore (2:22), who speaks of it as a long drum. Rabbi Saadia Gaon (Comm. on Dan.) describes the sumphonyah as the bag-pipe, an opinion adopted by the author of Schilte hag-giborim (in Ugolini Thesaur. 32:39-42; see Joel Brill’s Preface to Mendelssohn’s version of the Psalms), by Kircher, Bartholoccius, and the majority of Biblical critics. The same instrument is still in use among peasants in the NW of Asia and in Southern Europe, where it is known by the similar name sampogna or zampogna. With respect to the etymology of the word a great difference of opinion prevails. Some trace it to the Gr. (whence Eng. symphony), and Calmet, who inclines to this view, expresses astonishment that a pure Greek word should have made its way into the Chaldee tongue: it is probable, he thinks, that the instrument dulcimer (A.V.) was introduced into Babylon by some Greek or Western- Asiatic musician who was taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar during one of his campaigns on the coast of the Mediterranean. Geseniuas adopts this derivation (Thes. Hebrews page 941), and cites Polybius (ap. Athen. 10:52, page 439, ed. Casaub.) and Isidore (Orig. 3:21) in confirmation. Others regard it as a Shemitic word, and connect it with , “a tube” (Furst). The word occurs in the Talmud (Sukka, 36 a), where it evidently has the meaning of an air-pipe, with a case (Chelim, 16:8); but the explanation (Chelim, 2:6) by is not clear (Rosenmuller on Daniel 1.c.). Landau (Aruch. Art. ) considers it synonymous with siphon. Ibn Yahia, in his commentary on Dan 3:5, renders it by (), organ, the well known powerful musical instrument composed of a series of pipes. Rabbi Elias, whom Buxtorf quotes (Lex. Talm. col. 1504), translates it by the German word Leier (lyre). The old-fashioned spinet, the precursor of the harpsichord, is said to have resembled in tone the ancient dulcimer. The modern dulcimer is described by Dr. Busby (Dict. of Music) as a triangular instrument, consisting of a little chest, strung with about fifty wires cast over a bridge fixed at each end; the shortest wire is 18 inches in length, the longest 36; it is played with two small hammers held in the hands of the performer. SEE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Dulcimer
(Heb. sumphoniah), a musical instrument mentioned in Dan. 3:5, 15, along with other instruments there named, as sounded before the golden image. It was not a Jewish instrument. In the margin of the Revised Version it is styled the “bag-pipe.” Luther translated it “lute,” and Grotius the “crooked trumpet.” It is probable that it was introduced into Babylon by some Greek or Western-Asiatic musician. Some Rabbinical commentators render it by “organ,” the well-known instrument composed of a series of pipes, others by “lyre.” The most probable interpretation is that it was a bag-pipe similar to the zampagna of Southern Europe.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Dulcimer
A Hebraized Greek name, sumfonia, in Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15. A bagpipe, consisting of two pipes thrust through a leather bag, emitting a plaintive sound; the modern Italian zampogna. Some Greek Ionian of western Asia probably introduced the instrument into Babylon. However, Furst makes the word Semitic (“a tube”.) The old spinet resembled its tone.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Dulcimer
DULCIMER.This term, which denotes a stringed instrument (? the medival psaltery; see Music, 4 (1) (b)), is given incorrectly by EV [Note: English Version.] in Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15 as tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of sumpnya (Gr. loan-word), which prob. = bagpipe; see Music, 4 (2) (d).
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Dulcimer
dulsi-mer. See MUSIC under Nebhel and Sumphonia.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Dulcimer
Dulcimer [MUSIC]
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Dulcimer
sumponyah. A musical instrument formed of two pipes inserted into a leathern bag, somewhat like the bagpipes, or the Italian sampogna. Dan 3:5; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:15. It was not, like the modern dulcimer, formed with strings.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Dulcimer
General references
Dan 3:5; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:15 Music, Instruments of
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Dulcimer
Dulcimer. A musical instrument similar to a bag-pipe like that in use at the present day among the peasants of northwestern Asa and southern Europe. Dan 3:5; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:15. It was composed of two pipes with a leathern sack, and produced a harsh, screaming sound. It has no resemblance at all to the modern dulcimer.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Dulcimer
Dulcimer. (Hebrew, sumphoniah). A musical instrument, mentioned in Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15 probably, the bagpipe. The same instrument is still in use amongst peasants, in the northwest of Asia and in southern Europe, where it is known by the similar name, sampogna or zampogna.