The Violoncello and Its History

The Violoncello and Its History

The history of the Violoncello and Violoncello playing is connected in its early stages up to a certain point with that of the Viola da Gamba and its forerunner, the Basso di Viola, of the sixteenth century. This last-named instrument formed the bass in the string quartets of that time, to which also belonged, according to the Italian designation, the Discant-Viola or Violetta, as well as the Viola dAlta and di Tenore. In Germany these instruments were called Diskant, Alto, Tenor, and Bass viols. The terms Viola and Violin,[1] were at that time consequently synonymous. From the foregoing remarks it will be perceived that it is a question not of one kind, but of a whole family of stringed instruments. Descriptions and illustrations of them are found in the following music-authors of the sixteenth century. Sebastian Virdung: Musica getutscht, 1511; Hans Judenknig: Ain schne kunstliche Vnderwaisung, u.s.w., 1523; Martin Agricola: Musica instrumentalis deutsch, 1528; Hans Gerle: Musica Teusch (Teutsch), 1532; Ottomar Luscinius: (Nachtgall), Musurgia seu praxis Music, 1536; and Ganassi del Fontego: Regola Rubertina, 1542. Agricolas and Gerles works appeared in various editions. The work of the former, as well as Luscinius Musurgia, are partly reproductions of Virdungs Musica getutscht. According to the descriptions of the above-named authors, violas or violins were of two kinds.[2] Some of them had no[2] bridge, others, on the contrary, were provided with one. For the object before us the last only claim our consideration, of which, as well as of the bridgeless violins, there were four different examples. The alto and the tenor were the same size, but of different methods of tuning. The so-called violas (fiddles) were provided with six strings which were called, like the six lute chords, Great Bumhardt (Bombarte), middle ditto (tenor); small ditto (counter-tenor); middle string (great mean); vocal string (small mean); and quint string (treble). The Great[3] Bumhardt was left out in those instruments provided with five strings only. In Italy the six strings were called: Basso, Bordone, Tenore, Mezzanella or Mezzana, Sottanella or Sotana, and Canto. In France, according to Mersennus: Sixiesme, Cinquiesme, Quatriesme, Troisiesme, Seconde, and Chanterelle. The same author gives for the violas the names: Dessus, Haut Contre, Taille, and Basse Contre. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 42629
Author: Wasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Stigand, Isobella S. E.