Editing Rebec (section)

==Origins==
Popular from the 13th to 16th centuries, the introduction of the rebec into Western Europe coincided with the Arabic conquest of the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. There is, however, evidence of the existence of bowed instruments in the 9th century in Eastern Europe. The Persian geographer of the 9th century [[Ibn Khordadbeh|Ibn Khurradadhbih]] cited the  bowed [[Byzantine lira]] (or ''lūrā'') as a typical bowed instrument of the Byzantines and equivalent to the pear-shaped Arab ''[[rebab]]''.<ref>Margaret J. Kartomi, 1990</ref><ref>{{Citation |last= Farmer |first= Henry George |author-link= Henry George Farmer |year=1988 |title= Historical facts for the Arabian Musical Influence |publisher=Ayer Publishing |isbn=0-405-08496-X |page=137}}</ref><ref>For a possible etymological link between Arabic ''rebab'' and French ''rebec'' see [http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=rebec&submit.x=46&submit.y=17 American Heritage Dictionary]</ref><ref>{{Citation|last= Panum |first= Hortense |author-link=Hortense Panum |year=1939 |title=The stringed instruments of the Middle Ages, their evolution and development |location=London |publisher=William Reeves |page=434}}</ref>

The rebec was adopted as a key instrument in [[Arab classical music]] and in [[Morocco]] it was used in the tradition of [[Arabo-Andalusian music]], which had been kept alive by descendants of [[Moriscos|Muslims who left Spain]] as refugees following the [[Reconquista]]. The rebec also became a favorite instrument in the tea houses of the [[Ottoman Empire]].

The rebec was first referred to by that name around the beginning of the 14th century, though a similar instrument, usually called a ''lira da braccio'' (arm lyre), had been played since around the 9th century.<ref>{{cite book |last= Bachmann |first= Werner |author-link= Werner Bachmann |year=1969 |title= The origins of bowing and the development of bowed instruments up to the thirteenth century |publisher= Oxford University Press |page=35}}</ref> The name derives from the 15th century [[Middle French]] ''rebec'', altered in an unexplained manner from the 13th century [[Old French]] ''ribabe'', which in turn comes from the Arabic ''rebab''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Douglas |title=rebec (n.) |url= http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rebec |website=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> An early form of the rebec is also referred to as the ''rubeba'' in a 13th century Moravian treatise on music.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stainer |first1=J.F.R. |title=Rebec and Viol |journal=The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular |date=1900 |volume=41 |issue=691 |pages=596–597}}</ref> Medieval sources refer to the instrument by several other names, including [[Pochette (musical instrument)|kit]] and the generic term [[fiddle]].<ref name="Stowell"/>

A distinguishing feature of the rebec is that the bowl (or body) of the instrument is carved from a solid piece of wood. This distinguishes it from the later period [[vielle]]s and [[Viol|gambas]] known in the Renaissance.