Evolution of String Instruments

EVOLUTION OF STRING INSTRUMENTS by Joelle Fancher Morton
Date	c.1480	c.1600	c.1660 WOUND STRINGS	c.1725
"Viola da braccio" 4 strings (or 3) carved back overhand bow* thin sides high tension played standing* tuned in 5ths	violino ((G) d a e') -----------> viola alto ((CC) G d a) ------> viola tenore (CC G d a) -----> basso di viola (BBb F C g) ->	(treble violin ((c) g d' a')) ------> violin --------------------------> alto viola ----------------------> tenor viola --------------------> bass violin --------------------> contrabass (.?. G D A in Italy) ----------> (EE AA D G in France) ----->	goes out of use -----------------------------------> -----------------------------------> piccolo 'cello ((CC) G D a e) -----> bass de violon --------------------> violoncello (CC G d a) -----------> contrabass ((GG) AA D G in Italy) ---------> (EE AA D G or CC GG D A in France) ------>	------------------------------> ------------------------------> goes out of use c.1735 goes out of use c.1700 ------------------------------> --- (Dragonetti) -------------> --- (Nanny) -----------------> --- (Bottesini) --------------->
"Viola da Gamba" 6 strings (or 5) frets flat back underhand bow thick sides low tension played sitting tuned in 4ths w/3rd	descant (G C f a d g') -------> alto (DD G C e a d) ---------> tenor (DD G C e a d) -------> bass (GG C F A d g)	"treble" viol (D g c e a' d') ------> "alto" viol (G C f a d g') --------> "tenor" viol (G C f a d g') -------> "bass" viol (DD G C e a d) -----> violone da gamba --------------> (GG C F A d g) violone in contrabasso -----------> (DD GG C E A d)	pardessus (c f a d g') --------------> goes out of use goes out of use goes out of use basse de viole (AA DD G C e a d) > ------------------------------------> ------------------------------------>	goes out of use -------> until c.1790's used until c.1740's used until c.1740's, but much less commonly
New Additions/Hybrids			bass violon ------------------------> (FF) AA D F# A "Viennese tuning" baryton ----------------------------> viola d'amore ---------------------->	-- (Haydn, Mozart, Schubert) -> Used in Germany mostly, until c.1820's used until c.1820's used until c.1850's
Musical Repertoire	polyphony dance music consort music	basso continuo Opera melody and accomp	concerto grosso Opera/Oratorio solo music with accomp.	symphony Opera/oratorio solo music with accomp.

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