Violone - Types of Violoni

Types of Violoni

• A G violone by Ernst Busch, in Berlin

• More shots of the G violone by Ernst Busch, in Berlin

• 6-string G/A violone c1630 by Ernst Busch, in Stockholm

There are several different instruments that have historically been called by the name "violone". Some of these can be loosely described as 'cello-sized' instruments, and play their parts sounding at the notated pitch (using organ terminology, we say those parts are played at '8 foot pitch'). Other types of violone are larger-bodied than the cello (sometimes as large or even larger than modern double basses) – most of those violoni sound their parts an octave below notated pitch (at '16 foot pitch'), but some types are flexible about which octave they play in. Ultimately, however, it is not the size of the instrument that determines the type, but rather the tuning that is utilized, which generally makes it possible to classify the instrument as a member of either the viol or violin family. Centuries ago, most players and composers were not precise in describing the specific type of violone they had in mind when that name was written on the page. Modern historians acknowledge the importance of distinguishing specifically which instrument a composer intended. Assigning specific names and classifying violoni as different types, as we are doing here, is a modern attempt to clarify things.

Loosely described, string instruments are made in families so that different sized members can play in different ranges, with treble instruments corresponding to the soprano and bass instruments corresponding to the lowest vocal range (or even lower). Members of the violin family are the easiest to identify in this way: with the violin corresponding to the soprano, the viola to the alto, violoncello to the tenor, and bass to the bass ranges of the human voice (historically, the violin family was made in more than just these 4 sizes: there were originally several sizes of violas, as well as instruments smaller than the modern violin, for example). The viol family also comprises instruments in a multitude of sizes. In North America in the 21st century, we classify them as 'treble' viols (soprano), 'tenor' viols (alto range), 'bass' viols (tenor range) and 'great bass' viols or 'violoni' (bass range).

When we refer to the historical term 'violone,' we must include almost all the instruments of both the violin and viol families (plus some hybrids) that functioned as either tenor or bass members of those families. As the name 'violone' really means (see below), truly, these are all large string instruments. It was not until relatively recently that players and scholars started to realize that there were so many types of violoni and that not all of them functioned or sounded like double basses. Because of this, the classification of violoni according to tuning, family and function makes it start to be possible to clarify composers' intentions at different times and places. The most important thing to remember is that different types of violoni sound (and often function) quite differently from each other.

Cello-sized instruments that may be called violoni

Cello-sized instruments are typically the 'tenor' members of the viol or violin families, though in fact their upper compass allows them to play in the alto range, and their lower compass may enable them to play in the bass (and even contra-bass) range. There are 3 types of instruments in this category:

• The bass viol. This is a 6-string member of the viol family, most often tuned in D.
• The bass violin. This was usually a 4-string member of the violin family, often slightly larger-bodied than the 'cello, and often tuned with each string a whole step lower than the cello (lowest string is B flat).
• The violoncello. This is the 4 string member of the violin family as you know it.

Slightly larger than cello-sized instruments that may be called violoni

• The great bass viol, also sometimes called the G violone or the A violone This is the next largest viol after the bass viol, usually with 6 strings, and it can be tuned in A or G. It can play lines at either 8' or 16' pitch, and there is a tremendous amount of music for it as a solo and chamber instrument (at 8'), as the bass member of the viol consort (at 8'), playing continuo lines (usually at 8') and functioning as a double bass instrument in large ensembles (at 16').

Double bass-sized instruments that may be called violoni

There are a number of instruments in this category, but not all so easy to differentiate by name. One is a true member of the viol family, and the others have much in common with the violin, but can't necessarily be described as genuine violin family instruments because their tunings, proportions and/or construction issues may be at odds with the other sizes.

• D violone. This is the largest member of the viol family, with 6 strings, tuned in D, a full octave lower than the bass viol.
• The Viennese violone was a hybrid instrument because it has many features of the viol family (frets, gamba shape, flat back), but as a 4 or 5 string instrument (with a D major tuning in 3rds and 4ths), it doesn't have a true viol tuning. It played almost exclusively at 16', though it was used commonly as a chamber and solo instrument (even from the 17th century) and was the preferred double bass instrument in the Viennese Classical period (c.1760–1820).
• Contrabass or double bass. These terms are again problematic from a historical perspective (often meaning something slightly different from a modern reader might expect), but here refer to 3 or 4 string instruments that (usually) do not have frets—of all the types of violoni, these are the ones that most closely resemble modern double basses. The strings may be tuned in 4ths (GDAE like most modern double basses) or in 5ths (ADGC, a full octave lower than the cello), and if there are only 3 strings, the missing string is almost always the lowest one (i.e. GDA or ADG).

Yet other types

Centuries ago, and even in modern days, there are players who changed or adapted their instruments in unique ways that can be difficult to summarize or generalize. In this category we might find bass viols that are tuned in E (instead of D), or where the bottom string is tuned an extra step lower, to a low C. Or we might find a contrabass/double bass tuned in 4ths, but with a top string a 4th higher than is now standard (CGDA) or another contrabass/double bass tuned in 4ths but with its bottom string cranked down to a low D.