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1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic viii. 182 The subdivision of the string, and consequently the production of harmonic sounds, may be effected..by means of a sympathetic action conveyed by the air.

1836 M. Somerville Connex. Physical Sci. (ed. 3) Introd. 2 Oscillations, which correspond in their periods with the cause producing them, like sympathetic notes in music.

1884 F. Niecks Conc. Dict. Mus. Terms (at cited word) Viola d'amore, a bow stringed instrument a little longer than the viola, with seven (sometimes fewer) catgut strings about the fingerboard, and seven sympathetic wire strings below it.

1888 A. J. Hipkins Mus. Instruments 53 In the beautifully carved and inlaid instrument here drawn, a perfect viola d'amore in form.., the sympathetic strings are absent.

1898 J. Stainer Stainer & Barrett's Dict. Musical Terms (rev. ed.) 360/2 The player controls all this wealth of sympathetic vibration with the damper pedal.

1908 L. J. De Bekker Stokes' Encycl. Mus. & Musicians 706/2 The sympathetic strings give a beautiful effect.

1928 E. Blom Romance of Piano x. 178 In the treble, the sympathetic strings of the Blüthnor piano are tuned in unison with the ordinary strings.

1940 C. Sachs Hist. Mus. Instruments xvi. 365 Sympathetic strings had come to England from the Near East, apparently in the sixteenth century. Praetorius related that the English used sympathetic viol strings.

1960 H. Hayward Connoisseur's Handbk. Antique Collecting 297/2 Viola d'amore, a musical instrument..notable for its system of ‘sympathetic’ strings... Although out of reach of the bow and fingers these strings vibrate freely in sympathy with the notes played and produce a peculiarly ethereal effect.

1966 Melody Maker 7 May 10 The sympathetic strings [in a sitar] vibrate when the main strings are played, giving an answering drone.

1976 Early Music 4 303 This viol still bore twelve wrestpins in the end block which would have originally carried sympathetic strings added in the 18th century.

1976 Early Music 4 305 A viola bastarde..with six sympathetic strings beneath the six bowed strings.