The Viola da gamba Family
from Michael Praetorius: Syntagma Musicum, 1619
The Viola da braccio Family
from Michael Praetorius: Syntagma Musicum, 1619
Table of Characteristics
|
Part
|
viola da braccio
|
viola da gamba
|
|---|---|---|
| shoulder | square | square, sloping, festooned (leaf-form) |
| sound holes | f-form almost always | f-form, c-form, flame, snake, |
| rosette | almost never | very frequently, but not always |
| back | rounded | flat or rounded |
| corners | almost always | with corners, without corners |
| neck | relatively short | relatively long |
| frets* | almost never | always: 7 is rule; sometimes 8 |
| tuning* | in fifths | in fourths, with a third in the middle |
| strings* | 4; rarely 5 | 6 is the rule; sometimes 5 or 7 |
| stringing* | relatively strong (high tension) | relatively light (lower tension) |
| head | scroll; sometimes carved head | scroll (sometimes cut-through), carved head |
| edge | overhanging | overhanging or flush with ribs |
* Denotes the principal differences between the two families
which make a difference in the quality of sound and playing style
The Viola da gamba in Italy
The Viola da gamba in England
The Viola da gamba in Austria
The Viola da gamba in Germany
The Viola da gamba in France
THE VIOLA DA GAMBA: RESOURCES INDEX