Rebab or rabab, 19th century
Algeria
Wood, parchment, metal, ivory, leather
Technical Glossary
Algeria
Wood, parchment, metal, ivory, leather
L. 2 ft. 5 1/2 in. (74.9 cm), L. of bow 1 ft. 1 1/2 in. (34.2 cm)
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889 (89.4.403)
The term rebab refers to chordophones, particularly lutes and lyres, found in Islamic and Islamic-influenced lands. In North Africa, where this example is from, the rebab is most often a boat-shaped, two-string fiddle without frets. It is held across the player's body, with the pegbox against the left shoulder and the tailpiece on the right knee, and is played with a bow. The rebab is never played alone, and is used only to accompany singing. This instrument has been decorated with a delicate ivory inlay, in patterns reminiscent of other decorative objects of the same period from Algeria.
