Viola da Spalla

June 20, 2010 at 04:23 AM ·

June 20, 2010 at 11:29 AM ·

The viola da spalla (shoulder viola) is a strange hybrid that is somewhere near the size of the tenor viola or the New Family alto. It's tuned like a cello in the clip, which makes it like an even smaller  violoncello piccolo. The "da spalla" style of playing is far more comfortable than it looks. On my big altos (19.5"), the bow stroke is very easy and natural and the highest positions are readily accessible when the instrument is held across the chest. Another of those fascinating musical experiments of the era that had its moment and then faded away.

December 4, 2014 at 11:51 AM · Thank you for posting. I am the maker who made Sigiswald's instrument. After his instrument, no.1, I made other twelve - mostly for the baroque afficcionados who enjoy having the instrument but do not perform much. Unfortunately, it can be strung only with strings that work and these are not always historical (baroque players don't like compromises) and it needs a very solid technique (baroque players prefer to concentrate on other more important things). Then it can be played approximately like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBIpUz79Rds

Check on youtube Kuijken and Terakado, apart from Malov.

To me it was a nice challenge to test my knowledge of acoustics, revive the extinct instrument and even perform on it myself. Albeit it may seem ridiculous in the 21st century, and it also seemed ridiculous in the 17th century (remember: cello wasn't welcome for a long time), it is a very historical thing and it is rather fun, if you like that bassy resonance. Shame it did not develop more... however, I am perfectly free now of any regrets. Cheers, D.B.

December 4, 2014 at 11:52 AM · Thank you for posting. I am the maker who made Sigiswald's instrument. After his instrument, no.1, I made other twelve - mostly for the baroque afficcionados who enjoy having the instrument but do not perform much. Unfortunately, it can be strung only with strings that work and these are not always historical (baroque players don't like compromises) and it needs a very solid technique (baroque players prefer to concentrate on other more important things). Then it can be played approximately like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBIpUz79Rds

Check on youtube Kuijken and Terakado, apart from Malov.

To me it was a nice challenge to test my knowledge of acoustics, revive the extinct instrument and even perform on it myself. Albeit it may seem ridiculous in the 21st century, and it also seemed ridiculous in the 17th century (remember: cello wasn't welcome for a long time), it is a very historical thing and it is rather fun, if you like that bassy resonance. Shame it did not develop more... however, I am perfectly free now of any regrets. Cheers, D.B.

December 5, 2014 at 01:20 AM · Hi Dmitry, the instruments you make seems much smaller then the ones in historical drawings - and of course we don't know how accurate they are - but did you design it by experiment and found the dimensions that are the best fit acoustically and physically, or was it based off some sort period instrument that survived?

I have also heard that some early Italian cello repertoire have notes that require fingerings to stay up high in the fingerboard, which would have been quite awkward without using the thumb, and I heard there's a hypothesis that it works well if it's played across the chest instead of da gamba. I'm wondering if you have any experience or thoughts in this repertoire?