viola da spalla the biggest viola

September 13, 2011 at 9:43 PM

The biggest violin on your shoulder. You do not need a shouldersupport or chinrest but a leather belt around your neck like a guitar with the viola da spalla:

From Dmitry Badiarov
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Thanks for submitting. It is not exactly a viola, as it plays in the cello range. Caldara, the great italian cellist was recorded as cellist da spalla in the bookkeeping records of St.Marc's Cathedral in Venice. For this instrument J.S.Bach wrote all of his works. More info in my Galpin Society Journal articles. Another great player who plays this instrument since a few days: http://sergeymalov.com/ Enjoy music in their performances!

From Rachel Davis
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Woah! It looks like he just took a 1/4 size cello and strapped it to his neck! Great playing though and I like the sound.

From bill platt
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 4:17 PM

Bram, you find great stuff. Thanks.

From Ray Randall
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 5:13 AM

Looks like the same building and place Lisa Batiashveli (sp) was videoed from a year or so ago. Where is it?

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:16 AM

The Building is the music centre near 't Ij (water) for modern classical music http://www.muziekgebouw.nl/muziekgebouw/ muziekgebouw aan het 't IJ amsterdam in Dutch.

From Paul Deck
Posted on September 15, 2011 at 5:25 PM

I surprised my daughter's cello teacher one time by hoisting her little 1/8 size cello onto my shoulder and tuning it up like I would a violin. Fortunately it has four fine tuners! But it sure was fast.

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