ABSTRACT
The diffusion of the Arab lute and the later arrival of the bowed string instruments radically reshaped the sonic landscape of the entire Mediterranean and represent a significant break from the musical cultures of Late Antiquity. A word of caution, however, is advisable before dealing with early and medieval Arabic and European sources on musical instruments: these sources offer both a plethora of instrument names as well as ample evidence that these names were applied inconsistently over space and time. The instrument’s widespread popularity was apparently a result of its brighter and louder sound, in contrast with other forms of short-necked lutes. Bowed string instruments are so common in the post-medieval world, that many people assume that this is an ancient instrumental technique. In sum, al-Andalus was part of the overall change in instrumentarium that took place in the Mediterranean between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
