The rebec is a bowed stringed instrument with a vaulted back, most often carved from a single piece of wood. It probably evolved from the Moroccan rabab, coming to Spain with the Moors in the eighth century, but positive proof of its existence in European cultures was not evident until the thirteenth century.
The rebec commonly has 3 strings but the number can vary from 2 to 6. In modern times various forms of the instrument exist, for example in Greece (lyra), Bulgaria (gadulka) and other cultures. It has a nasal sound quality and is ideally suited to dance music.
The rebecs played in Trio Grosso were made by Russell Johnsen.