viola da gamba

2 definitions found

viola da gamba - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Viola \Vi"o*la\, n. [It. See Viol.] (Mus.)
     An instrument in form and use resembling the violin, but
     larger, and a fifth lower in compass.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Viola da braccio [It., viol for the arm], the tenor viol,
        or viola, a fifth lower than the violin. Its part is
        written in the alto clef, hence it is sometimes called the
        alto.
  
     Viola da gamba [It., viol for the leg], an instrument
        resembling the viola, but larger, and held between the
        knees. It is now rarely used.
  
     Viola da spalla [It., viol for the shoulder], an instrument
        formerly used, resembling the viola, and intermediate in
        size between the viola and the viola da gamba.
  
     Viola di amore [It., viol of love: cf. F. viole d'amour], a
        viol, larger than the viola, having catgut strings upon,
        and brass or steel wires under, the keyboard. These,
        sounding sympathetically with the strings, yield a
        peculiarly soft and silvery sound. It is now seldom used.
        [1913 Webster]

viola da gamba - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  viola da gamba
      n 1: viol that is the bass member of the viol family with
           approximately the range of the cello [syn: viola da gamba
           , gamba, bass viol]