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The viola da gamba or "leg viol" saw its beginnings in 15th century Spain. Local guitarists (or as they were called "vihuelists") tried playing their instrument with a rabab bow (a bow for an instrument from North Africa), and the first viola da gamba was born.

The instrument retained everything from its original family: the frets, the tuning, and the playing position. It was held like a guitar, and was bowed vertically.



	This instrument was quickly introduced into court circles in Naples, where the Italians started holding the instrument vertically and equipped the viol with a round bridge, essential to playing on one string at a time. Soon afterwards instrument makers built the instruments in various sizes: treble, tenor, bass and double bass. The only rule for construction was the instrument builder's fantasy.

The viola da gamba retained the underhand bow technique of the rabab, as well as the left hand guitar technique. This led to virtuoso playing of solo music in chordal fashion, known in England as "lyra-viol" technique, or virtuoso linear playing known as divisions. The instrument found a large following in amateur circles, being relatively easy for a beginner. It was the ideal instrument to play "in family," children playing the smallest instruments, and adults the larger ones. When you could play one size you could play them all!

The repertoire for the viola da gamba is vast, at least 9000 or so solo pieces, and even more repertoire for ensembles - known as "Consorts".

Many European courts had viola da gamba players in the 17th and 18th centuries. Charles I, King of England was reputed to be proficient enough on the bass viol to contribute a strong voice when playing with his favorite musicians.

In France the viola da gamba was a favorite among Parisian intellectuals, and was one of Louis XIV's favorite instruments.

The viola da gamba with its beautiful resonant but alas soft sound disappeared at the end of the 18th century, when public tastes favored louder string instruments which were more audible in the ever enlarging concert halls.

Nowadays many amateurs all over the world have taken up this wonderful instrument anew. At the same time serious musicians became virtuosi on the sadly neglected viol. A major motion picture was made in France:

"Tous les Matins du Monde." The plot deals with the lives of two famous French violists, Marin Marais and Sainte-Colombe. This film helped the 20th century rediscover the passion and mystery of the "monarch of instruments".

Jonathan Dunford

Full length article by Jonathan Dunford on the viola da gamba for Goldberg Magazine here

The Viola da Gamba Society of America has a page on the viol.

For more about old string instruments, see the ORPHEON - Museum of Historical Musical Instruments.