Viola da Gamba – What is it?

A brief outline/guide to the viola da gamba.

This is a question I often get asked, even by classicaly trained musicians (and it's only the brave ones who ask).

Viola da gamba, viol or gambe? Contrary to popular belief, it is the same instrument just said in Italian, English and German. (I think it sounds best in Italian, so that is the version I will most often use, although not always).

The viola da gamba had its heyday between 1550 and 1750. Around 1750 (depending on the country) the cello, for several reasons, began to take over, in terms of use and popularity.

Many people consider the modern day cello as similar to or connected to the viola da gamba. Although similar, they are not really connected and indeed they both actually belong to 2 different families of instruments.

Some of the major differences between a gamba and cello that I would like to point out are:

1.A gamba has six strings (seven for French music)

...a cello has only four

2. A gamba has seven moveable frets, similar to a guitar

...a cello has zero frets

3. Gamba strings are made of gut or metal covered gut

...cello strings are pure steel

4. The gamba is supported by the players knees/legs

...a cello has a metal endpin or spike

5. The gamba bow is held with an underhand grip

...a cello bow is held with an overhand grip.

Those two different familes of the gamba and cello are namely the ‘family of the leg’ (viola da gamba) and the ‘family of the arm’ (viola da Braccio). Both families have several members. The viola da Braccio family includes those that we are all already familiar with: the violin, viola, cello and double bass. The main members of the viola da gamba family (there are more but I am only wanting to give a basic outline of the gamba rather than bore you with the entire history and development of the instrument... not that I know enough to bore you) includes the:

Treble viol:

has six strings, tuned from the lowest D,G,C,E,A,D. A little wider than the violin and held between the knees. Often used in viol consort music. (‘consort’ is the name for a group, usually between three and six, of viols playing together, a ‘broken consort’ is when not all the instruments are viols eg. three viols, two lutes)

Tenor viol:

has six strings, tuned G,C,F,A,D,G. Held between the knees. Mainly used for a middle voice in viol consort music.

Bass viol:

has six strings, but seven strings for french music due to a famous French gambist (Saint Colombe) introducing a 7^th string in the early 17th century. Consequently all successive French gambists (eg Marin Marais, Antoine Forqueray) wrote music to include this lower range for the gamba. Tuned (A) D,G,C,E,A,D, The bass viol with six strings is used for consort and solo, and the french seven string bass is only used for solo music.

Violone:

has usually six strings tuned like the same as the bass gamba but sounding an octave lower. A little smaller than the double bass and played standing or sitting. Mainly used in chamber and orchestral music, eg J.S. Bach's St. John's and Matthew's Passions

Lirone:

has twelve strings and is an accompanying chordal instrument, rather than solo.

Congratulations, you now know enough about the viola da gamba to bring it up at a dinner party and impress your friends with your diverse knowledge of obscure and unusual subjects. Spread the word, it's a magical and important part of our cultural heritage!

Of course, if you haven’t already, the next step would be to visit and check out the next up and coming viola da gamba concert in your town.