Historically Informed Performance on the Viola da Gamba

The History of Hikari Instruments

The sound of the viola da gamba, with its warm, rich tones, transports listeners back to the music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. This instrument, along with other early music instruments like the lute, recorder, and harpsichord, creates an atmosphere reminiscent of royal courts and early European art music.

The Viola Da Gamba

The viola da gamba, often shortened to "VDG," emerged in Spain and Italy in the late 15th century. This instrument produces gorgeous resonance thanks to its fretted fingerboard and six or seven strings, which players bow or pluck. Composers began writing music specifically for the viol by the 16th century.

Several sizes of viola da gamba exist, including treble, tenor, and bass. These produce a range of pitches, allowing for polyphonic playing in consort. Ensembles may use multiple sizes of viol together to perform early music.

Evolution of Early Music Instruments

Instruments changed significantly heading into the mid-1500s. The viol developed into an instrument perfect for playing chords, scales, and melodies. This made it quite popular with composers looking to showcase increasingly complex polyphony and harmony.

Luthiers also experimented with instrument construction during the Renaissance. They used new woods, shapes, string lengths, frets, and bass-bar positions. This evolution shaped the sounds of viols and other stringed instruments we hear in Baroque works.

Playing Historically-Informed Hikari Instruments

Modern performers aiming to authentically reproduce early European music utilize period instruments. This includes viols constructed following historical designs using traditional materials and methods.

Purpose-Built Contemporary Viols

Contemporary luthiers trained in early music instrument construction build viols intended solely to play Renaissance and Baroque repertoire. These instruments follow examples from famous viol makers of the past like Joachim Tielke, Barak Norman, and Henry Jaye.

Using designs, wood choices, and construction techniques faithful to the 16th and 17th centuries produces rich sounds reminiscent of the original instruments. This allows performers to create authentic interpretations of viol consort music.

Performing Early Repertoire

Hikari instruments built for historically informed performance open up exciting musical opportunities. Performers can play iconic viol consort works exactly as the composers intended - with resonant, warm-toned viols.

From Christopher Tye's elegant "In Nomine" to the lively divisions of Tobias Hume, viol players survey captivating repertoire using instruments carefully crafted for this purpose. Besides consort works, the bass viol also appears prominently as a solo instrument in fantasias and dances.

The Ongoing Legacy of the Viola da Gamba

While never completely fading into obscurity, viols enjoyed a significant revival in the 20th century. Early music performers brought renewed interest to the instrument through research, recordings, and concerts.

Today, makers produce contemporary viols for historically informed performance. Composers also write new music for the viol. Through this continued interest, the rich tones of the Renaissance viol consort endure centuries later, bringing joy to modern listeners.

FAQs

What are some other names for the viola da gamba?

The viola da gamba is often simply called a "viol." Other historical names include the gamba, divisions viol, and bass viol.

What musicians played the viol in early music?

The viol was played by amateurs and professionals. Wealthy nobles often learned the viol as part of a well-rounded education, while professional viol consorts played in royal courts across Europe.

What materials are historical viols made from?

Renaissance and Baroque viols utilized premium woods like maple, spruce, ebony, and rosewood. The specific woods varied over time and between instrument makers in different regions.

How are modern viols for early music different from old instruments?

While luthiers aim to construct historically informed viols using traditional designs and materials, modern instruments utilize precisely controlled humidity and temperatures during construction. This promotes longevity of contemporary instruments.