When was the Viola d Amore invented?
17th century
The viola d’amore appeared in the late 17th century and was very popular until at least the late eighteenth century. The principle of sympathetic strings was used on various-sized violas, and violas da gamba.
How many strings are on a Viola d Amore?
seven
Violas d’amore typically have seven playing strings, though instruments with other numbers of strings are not unusual.
How do you tune a viola d Amore?
The viola d’amore was normally tuned specifically for the piece it was to play – cf. scordatura. Towards the end of the 18th century the standard tuning became Open D Major: A, d, a, d’, f♯’, a’, d”. If we think of She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes, this tuning is great for that song.
What material is the viola made of?
The viola is a member of the violin family, it is slightly larger than the violin and produces a lower and deeper sound. This beautiful instrument is usually made from wood with a hollow body, although electric versions are available.
How is viola made?
A viola starts its life as a wedge of wood – usually spruce or maple – which is then sawn in two. These two halves are then glued together in what is known as ‘butterflying’. This process is used for the back and top piece of the viola.
When did the viola d’amore come out?
The viola d’amore appeared in the late 17th century and was very popular until at least the late eighteenth century. The principle of sympathetic strings was used on various-sized violas, and violas da gamba.
Why are violas called viola d’amore da gamba?
The principle of sympathetic strings was used on various-sized violas, and violas da gamba. This created an authentic family, to whose members special names were given, like in the case of the viola d’amore da gamba, called viola pomposa. The origin of the term d’amore is uncertain.
How many strings does a normal viola have?
This instrument which was highly appreciated in its time by musicians and music amateurs, is simply a normal viola usually with 6 or 7 strings but equipped with the same number of resonance strings.