The Gambas:

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

A History Of GAMBAS

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

Gruber, Matthias. Four Viols. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 May 2004. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Viola_da_gamba.png>. 

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

French Baroque Viol bow. Digital image. Basil De Visser Period Bows. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. baroquebows.com/wp-content/uploads/17.jpg>. 

Playing position

• Upright
• Suspended in midair
• Between legs
• Sitting
• Contrabass can be played standing

Untitled Slide

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

Gamba repertoire

Famous elizabethan composers

• Byrd
• Dowland

Famous composers during king charles

• Jenkins
• Lawe
• Hume

Famous composers before revival

• Purcell

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

Consort music

• William Byrd (Fantasia a 6)
• youtube.com/watch?v=cXNI49_FJBU

Broken consort

• Instruments from more than one family
• Famous during Elizabethan times
• Contains plucked and bowed instruments, sometimes recorder, voice and harpsichord

Music for broken consort

• John Jenkins (15 fantasia air for 2 treble parts, 1 bass, and continuo)
• youtube.com/watch?b=tDBnx6Mpd60

Music for bass viol

• Carl Friedrich Abel (27 Pieces for Unaccompanied Viola da Gamba
• youtube.com/watch?v=KIJsO-2XpY4

Music for Pardessus

• Barriere
• Pardessus Sonata No. 6 in F-minor, Livre V
• youtube.com/watch?v=Ink8Fj4l76o

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

Untitled Slide

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlWmlu09Gp0

Key points to take away

• Gambas are very versatile instruments
• Very different from violins
• They have a vast repertoire

Thanks for listening