viola da gamba

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə : a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin. violist. vē-ˈō-list. noun.

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You get a sweet sound that is a bit reedy (gut strings) and melancholy, just right for what it was originally intended: private music for personal or royal consumption. The viol also comes in different sizes, like recorders.

This relatively small English bass was made in mid-seventeenth-century London, at a time when viol making had been refined to such a degree that the instruments were desired in equal part by royalty and citizens alike.

The German word for viola ("bratsche") is said to come from "viola da braccio" ("viola for the arm"), which is what instruments in the violin family were referred to in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. An early viola. Its sloping shoulders show its lineage from the viol.

The viola is played by drawing the horsehair of the bow across the strings, causing the strings to vibrate. The hollow wood body of the viola amplifies the string vibrations, making the famous viola sound.

The viol is accessible as a first instrument to any person, at any age. Those with physical limitations may find the viol more approachable than other string instruments as they require very little strength to play and come in several sizes.

The viola's tone is darker, weightier, and warmer than that of the violin. The modern symphony orchestra contains from 6 to 10 violas. The viola is an integral member of the string quartet and larger chamber music ensembles. In the 18th-century orchestra the viola usually doubled cello parts.

A viola's typical sound is described as deep and mellow, and it generally has a slower sound than the violin due to its thicker strings.

A player of the viol is commonly known as a gambist, violist /ˈvaɪəlɪst/, or violist da gamba.

The viola often plays the "inner voices" in string quartets and symphonic writing, and it is more likely than the first violin to play accompaniment parts. The viola occasionally plays a major, soloistic role in orchestral music.

The Viola is also known as the Cinderella of the orchestra, due to it being unfairly neglected when it comes to popularity to the public and choice of famous classical music. Lionel Tertis and William Primrose were the two famous violists that helped the viola become more respected in general and as a solo instrument.