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What actually IS a viola da gamba?

What actually IS a viola da gamba?

Liam Byrne is one of the most distinctive voices in the world of the viola da gamba, moving between the instrument’s lesser-known historical repertoire and new music written for him by some of today’s leading composers. His work spans early music performance, collaborations with artists from across musical genres, and inventive projects exploring the viol’s extraordinary sound.

In this article, Liam shares what first drew him to the instrument, from its rich, malleable resonance to the unique playing techniques that give it such a distinctive voice. He also explores its history, how it works, and why the viol remains such a rewarding instrument to play, whether in a consort or as a solo instrument.

Read on for Liam’s personal introduction to the viola da gamba, and what makes this centuries-old instrument continue to capture the imagination of musicians today.

The cocktail party description of the viol I’ve been using for years is that it’s like a cross between a guitar and a cello, which was played throughout Europe between 1500-1800. This is mostly true, although its exact evolution in the 16th century is a little murkier and people never really stopped playing it, particularly in Britain. If I manage to squeeze in a second sentence, it's usually something about inherent melancholy, enchanting resonance, or delicate noblesse, depending on the crowd.

The viol is often erroneously described as an ancestor to the cello. In fact, both instruments took their archetypal forms around the same time in the second half of the 16th century. The name viol (rhymes with "while" and sometimes spelt "viall") was the common historical term for the instrument in Britain, but the Italian term viola da gamba was--and still is--used interchangeably.

It was the sound more than anything else that first drew me to the viol. The instrument has an incredibly malleable resonance, achieved via a special bow technique that allows the player a certain tactile feedback and control. The bow is held from beneath the stick, sort of like holding a pencil or a pair of chopsticks. The player then uses their middle finger to pull on the bow's hair, changing the tension whilst sliding the bow across the strings. This three-dimensional approach opens up a huge range of colours and timbres in sound.

If one were to imagine the pluck of the lute as an ink drawing and the bowing of a cello as an oil pastel, the sound of the viol would be something like a picture in ink and watercolour. Our sound has a transparency that blends beautifully with other instruments, with the clarity of a pluck but the flowing line of a human voice.

The viol has 6 strings (though some French bass viols have 7), which are usually tuned in fourths with a third between the middle two strings. The third allows the highest and lowest strings to be exactly two octaves apart, which improves resonance and facilitates the playing of chords, like on the guitar. The viol also has frets made of gut, which are tied around the neck. These frets play an important part in tone production, because the gut fret stops the vibrating string with a cleaner edge than a fleshy finger, which helps give the viol its characteristically resonant sound. The frets also make it easier to play chords and help beginners find their notes.

It is by far the most accessible string instrument for new players, both technically and musically. All sizes of viol are held between the legs and all use the same fundamental technique, so it's easy to switch between sizes of instrument and thus roles in an ensemble. Indeed the greatest riches of the viol's repertoire are found in consort music for 3-6 instruments, and much of this music is technically straightforward enough that a dedicated student can manage some of the most beautiful polyphony after a relatively short period of study. Historically it was an instrument played mostly by noble amateurs, and today the viol is kept alive largely through the passionate engagement of amateur musicians and organisations. A deeply rewarding journey of discovery awaits the curious violist!
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