Scan 71

A popular account of ancient musical instruments and their development, as illustrated by typical examples in the Galpin collection at Hatfield, Broad Oak, Essex, 1897

2 lines. Read by computer on 30 September 2026. Printed page 53. See the scan on archive.org.

1violoncello. The viol differs from the violin in having deeper ribs and a flat back which is sloped off at the top. The instrument was made in four sizes, treble, tenor, bass, and double bass. The last indeed is still in use, for as the double bass of the violin it is often seen in the modern orchestra. The viols are tuned in thirds and fourths instead of fifths. They lack the brilliancy of tone of the violins. The viola da braccio, or tenor viol, had originally six strings. The sixth string was dropped in the last century. The viols were at first used to assist the vocalists. They had frets made of catgut so that the player's art was restricted and cramped by those clumsy devices. The fine gradations of tone and emphasis of the violinist and 'cello player of to-day were unknown to the performer on the viol. Quite recently Mr. Arnold Dolmetsch, a musician of distinction, has revived the use of the viols, and he has given several concerts at which the viola da gamba and

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