The Shapes of the Viola da gamba in History
- Putting together a complex puzzle -

Treble viola da gamba by Joann Boller Bugger

Unlike the violin, whose basic design was already standardized by the middle of the 16th Century with the work of Andrea Amati in Cremona and has remained basically unaltered up to the present day (indeed, all violins look alike! If you examine the measurements of the violins in our collection, you may be surprised at how closely they resemble each other), violas da gamba or viols (the English term for this instrument) were constructed in a truly stunning variety of sizes and shapes, as witnessed by examining even just the instruments in our collection. Models with five, six or seven strings, sizes varying from the pardessus to the double bass, with flat backs or shaped backs, with bent tops or with shaped tops (see the article by Simone Zopf), with sloping shoulders or rounded ones, with festoon outlines or violin-outlines or traditional English outlines, with C-holes or F-holes or flame-holes, with or without rosettes, with carved heads or with scrolls: let's face it, the aristocratic viol was as individualistic as its players and its enthusiasts! This marvellous variety is fortunately very much reflected in the viols of our collection.
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Renaissance viol in guitar form or cornerless viols

Renaissance viol with rounded shoulders

Two forms of the Renaissance

The viol in "Regola Rubertina" (Venice, 1542-3) by Sylvestro Ganassi

Renaissance viol in guitar form

Viola da gamba in the Classical English form and in the violin form

Viola da gamba in the classical English form

Viola da gamba in the violin form but with Sharp Corners

Viola da gamba in the violin form but with Sloping Shoulders

Viola da gamba in the violin form

Viola da gamba in festoon shape

The viola da gamba Tradition in South Germany and Austria

The Treble viola da gamba (violetta) in South Germany and Austria

Stradivarius and the viola da gamba

Viols with rounded backs

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The Viola da gamba in Italy

The Italian Renaissance viols:
Music for Charles V and Philip II

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

words of wisdom | shapes of viols

updated 18.06.2011