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Scan 583
American history and encyclopedia of music, 1910
39 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 562. See the scan on archive.org.
1viol lyra way
2which was written on a staff of six lines, one for each string. Also called Lero viol.
3viola (vē-ō'-lä) It. n.
41. A bowed instrument, the prototype of the violin. It was furnished with six strings, the back was flat as was usually the belly, the sound-holes were circular, the bridge low and the sides only slightly incurved. There were four sizes: the treble, alto, bass, and contrabass; the group being termed the chest of viols.
52. The modern viola is one of the important orchestral instruments. Although the instrument is often referred to as the tenor violin its pitch is more that of the alto voice. The viola is constructed exactly like the violin, but is a fifth larger and is pitched the interval of a fifth lower.
6The music is written almost entirely in the C clef with the high notes in the G, or treble, clef. Its tone blends well in the orchestra, and has a range of color extending from sad reverie to agonized pathos. It usually carries the third part in the quartet with the first and second violins and the violoncello, although sometimes it doubles the violin parts. Abbr. va.
7viola bastarda (vē-ō'-lä bās-tār'-dā) It.
8Literally, bastard viol: this instrument was larger than the tenor and smaller than the bass viol. In the Seventeenth Century it fell into disuse, having been replaced by the baryton. See also baryton.
9viola da braccio (vē-ō'-lä dā brāt'-chō)
10It.
11Literally, arm viol: an alto viol which is held in the bend of the arm when played. It was at first strung with six strings, but in the Eighteenth Century the number was reduced to five.
12viola da gamba (vē-ō'-lä dā gām'-bā)
13It.
14Literally, leg viol: an obsolete form of the violoncello. The name refers to the fact that, owing to the size of the instrument, it is held between the knees when played. Equivalent to viol di gamba. See also violoncello.
15viola d'amore (vē-ō'-lä dā-mō'-rē) It.
16Literally, viol of love: a tenor viol furnished with seven catgut strings passing over the bridge, and a number of wire strings drawn through small holes in the lower part of the bridge and passing under the fingerboard on the neck; the wire strings were tuned in unison with the others and vibrated sympathetically when the latter were rubbed with the bow. The instrument was useful only in solos and as a consequence had but a short life. The name was suggested by the soft effect of the sympathetic strings.
17viola di bordone (vē-ō'-lä dē bōr-dō'-nē) It.
18See baryton.
19viola pomposa (vē-ō'-lä pōm-pō'-sā) It.
20A five-stringed viol almost four feet long, invented by John Sebastian Bach. It was rested on the floor between the performer's knees when played. The fifth string afforded greater felicity in the execution of extended passages; but as performers acquired more skill upon the violoncello the viola pomposa was made unnecessary.
21viole (vē'-ōl) Fr. n.
22Viole (fē-ō'-lē) Ger. n.
23See viola (It.).
24violentemente (vē-ō-lēn-tē-měn'-tē) It. adv.
25Violently; forcefully; vehemently; impetuously.
26violenza (vē-ō-lěn'-tsā) It. n.
27Violence; fury; vehemence; force.
28violet
29A name sometimes applied to the viola d'amore.
30violetta marina (vē-ō-lět'-tā mā-rē'-nā) It.
31A high tenor viol very similar to the viola d'amore.
32violicembalo
33An instrument invented in 1823 and greatly resembling the piano in appearance but differing in its mechanism; the keys pressing the strings against a revolving wheel which was operated by means of treadles. The tone could be made louder or softer by increasing the pressure of the fingers upon the keys.
34violier (vē-ōl-yā) Fr. n.
35Violist; one who plays a viol.
36violin
37The principal orchestral instrument, and the one which most closely resembles the human voice. Italy has always been the seat of violin manufacturing; Brescia was made famous by the violins of Da Salo, Mariani and Bente; and Cremona as the home of the Amati, Stradivari, Jacob Stainer and Guarnerius.
38An English violin maker named
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