Viole da gamba
…a family of instruments ranging from soprano to contra-bass which are leaned on or held between the knees. Hence the often used name: viola da gamba – gamba is the Italian word for “leg”. The viol’s reign started at the beginning of the sixteenth century and lasted until the end of the eighteenth. It was exceptionally favoured by the nobility. Thanks to its tuning (thirds and fourths) and frets, the viol is much better suited for not only melodic, but also harmonic playing, more so than any of its cousins from the violin family. The viole da gamba were particularly cherished in France where the viol sound was considered to be the best imitation of the human voice.
