Books › Chats on Violins, 1905 › scan 67
Scan 67
Chats on Violins, 1905
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 49. See the scan on archive.org.
1posed sixty-three pieces expressly for the Viola di Bordone. The South Kensington Museum owns a fine specimen; the scroll bears an exquisitely carved figure of Apollo, and the instrument is most handsomely inlaid.
3Besides the Viola da Braccio and Viola da Gamba class, Italy owned the Lyra Viols, which were also treble and bass. They sported an immense number of strings, varying from twelve to twenty or more, and were very difficult, owing to the necessarily wide finger-board. They were chiefly played in churches.
5The earliest viols retained the mediæval guitar-shaped peg box; as they grew in favour, this gave place to the modern system. At first the improved peg-box was surmounted by a carved human animal or grotesque head. Many celebrated artists exercised their talents in fashioning these, and produced beautiful little gems. The custom did not long remain in favour as Viol makers could not afford the expense of employing individual artists to complete their work, and therefore substituted the familiar fiddle scroll which they could carve themselves.
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