Dear Matthias,
another system of classifying musical instruments is by material (used in
India, China a.s.o). I think, there's at least as much logic in this system as
in the western european.
I do not have difficulties in applying the Sachs system to any instrument as a
material thing but doing this would miss one point if dealing with the
lute/lute-guitar/guitar-lute/guitar-thing: people "classified" the lute
instruments either as lutes, as hybrids ("Bastard-instrument" = Sachs's word
for it) or as guitars, while guitars sometimes were called lutes, especially if
used for the singer's accompaniment.
Best wishes,
Joachim
"Mathias Rösel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb:
>> I agree with almost everything you write except that I would like to call
>> instruments first and foremost by their proper names (especially if it comes
>> to non western european instruments), that I would not like to call guitars
>> lutes
>
>nor should I. Lute instruments would be the traditional name.
>
>> [and therefore have to admit that I am not able to decide upon where the
>> dividing line runs between the different six-string plucked things used side
>> by side in the nineteenth and early twentieth century]
>
>nomen proprium definitur per genus proximum + accidentia specifica:
>chordophones -> plucked chordophones -> plucked chordophones with necks
>-> plucked chordophones with necks and bowl-like bodies.
>
>> and that I think that the Sachs system does not apply universally except
>> when one states that western (european) views have needs to be adopted all
>> over the world.
>
>Perhaps, Japanese musicologists will share the European traditional way
>of definining families of musical instruments. Perhaps they won't. Does
>that mean it's wrong in any kind of way? Would you suggest other ways
>than by use or construction?
>
>All the best,
>
>Mathias
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