PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Why we chose this topic
- We're all string players
- To better understand period repertoire
What we will cover
- History of the gambas during the century
- How a gamba works and what makes it unique
- Gamba repertoire
Overview using time periods
- Used at court and in home during Renaissance and Baroque periods
- Middle of the Renaissance era
- Western Europe from 15-18 c.
- Introduced to education in 1547
- 16 c. was highlight for employment
- 18 c popularity slowly faded
Origins
- End of 15 c. in Spain
- Frequently appears in period artwork
- Instrument for amateurs and professionals
- Began to appear elsewhere in Papal states
- London choir schools introduced in 1547
- 16 c. London had high demands
- Created jobs and employment
Ancestors of the gambas
- Rabab: a Moorish instrument from 12-13 c.
- Vielle: more strings
- Vihuela: plucked 5-string
Isabella D'este
- Art lover
- Heard about Spanish concert
- Ordered many violes a la spagnola
- Collected paintings featuring the instrument
Spark of popularity
- Italian renaissance era
- D'este caused demand
- Flourished in Western Europe from late 15-18 c.
- Displaced by violins in 18 c.
- Venice
- Remained popular in England into 18c.
The Mechanics of The Gambas
What makes a Gamba a Gamba?
- Stringed
- Fretted
- Flat back
- Sloped Shoulders
- Bowed
Types of Gambas
- Pardessus de viole
- Treble
- Alto
- Tenor
- Bass
- Contrabass (Violone)
Pardessus de viole
- Smallest gamba
- 18th century
- 5 strings
- Violin and Flute music
- Rare
Pardessus de Viole. Digital image. String King. String King, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Treble viol
- One of the 3 main gambas
- 6 strings
- Treble clef
- Similar to viola
Treble Viol after John Hoskins. Digital image. Robert Eyland VIols Robert Eyland Viols, May 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Alto Viol
- Rare
- Related to tenor viol
- Doesn't follow tuning scheme
- Alto Clef
Sultan, Don. Alto Viola Da Gamba. Digital image. Fotocommunity. Fotocommunity, 23 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Tenor Viol
- One of 3 main gambas
- Used in solo and consorts
- 6 strings
- Alto clef
Tenor Viol after John Rose. Digital image. Robert Eyland Viols. Robert Eyland Viols, May 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Bass Viol
- One of 3 main gambas
- Most versatile
- 6-7 strings
- Bass clef
- Similar to cello
Ogle, Charlie. Norman Bass Viol. Digital image. Violadagamba.com. Charlie Ogle, 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Contrabass Viol
- Largest
- 2 sizes
- Not used in solo or consort
- 6-7 strings
Violone in G. Digital image. Orpheon. The Orpheon Foundation, 4 June 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Gamba shape
- Flat backs
- Rounded shoulders
- Reedy sound
- Deeper body gives resonance
Strings and tuning
- 5-7 gut strings
- Tuned like Renaissance lute
- Similar to guitar
- Alternates between G and D instruments
- A=415
- Alternate tunings sometimes used
Frets and temperament
- Tied on gut
- 7-8 frets
- Temperament could be changed
- Uneven fret spacing
- Predated equal temperament
Bows
- Most music is bowed
- Different bows in different times/countries
- Originals exist
- Modern bows recreate examples, treatises, and artwork
- Underhand grip
- Open frog
Playing position
- Upright
- Suspended in midair
- Between legs
- Sitting
- Contrabass can be played standing
Differences between violins and gambas
- Playing position
- Frets
- Number of strings
- Tuning
- Bow grip
- Bow
- Holes
- Age
What this means for sound
- Gambas blend well with other instruments
- Very versatile
- Can work in many genres
Famous elizabethan composers
Famous composers during king charles
Famous composers before revival
Famous composers during Louis xiv
- Marais
- J.S. Bach
- Schenk
- Forqueray
- Abel
- Barriere
- Telemann
What is a consort?
- A small ensemble where all instruments are from the same family
- Gamba consorts common in 16-17 c. courts
- Sound sweeter and more shimmering than violin family
- Too quiet to play with orchestra or in large concert halls
- Now played in churches and small halls
Broken consort
- Instruments from more than one family
- Famous during Elizabethan times
- Contains plucked and bowed instruments, sometimes recorder, voice and harpsichord
Marin marais
- 1656-1728
- Central figure
- Greatest performer of the era
- Appointed as Ordinaire de la Musique de la Chambre du Roi
- Served under Louis XIV and XV
- Studied with Lully, Hotman and Sainte- Colombe
Marin marais (cont)
- Entered the royal orchestra as a soloist in 1685
- Member of the Academie Royale de Musique orchestra
- Member of the choir of Sainte-Chapelle
- Composed operas, trios, sonatas
- 5 books for bass gambas
Key points to take away
- Gambas are very versatile instruments
- Very different from violins
- They have a vast repertoire