3 ms·

One of the pages mentioned a 'cello da spalla, which I hadn't heard of before, so I found this YouTube video introducing it and playing part of a prelude on it:

• cml123 1y ago
  Since you mention the viola da gamba, I'll mention that in the US, the Viola da Gamba Society of America[0] is keeping the tradition alive. I'm a rusty cellist and learned of the vdgsa a few years ago. They have an annual conclave for players of all levels to learn, play, and have a good time. There was a conclave about 2.5 hrs from my home, and it was advertised as free for beginners, with the option to rent an instrument for the duration of the event across ~ a week. I also play the bass guitar and double bass, which like the gamba family are tuned in fourths vs fifths for the violin family, so I figured I'd show up and try my hand at the instrument. They are a friendly and welcoming community maintaining a rental network in the US for the different types of violas da gamba. They have a strong interest as an organization in funding the continued scholarship, performance, and community for these forgotten instruments. It was very cool. I've since gotten my hands on a rental bass viol, though I haven't had as much time for it as I'd like. [0] https://www.vdgsa.org/ https://www.vdgsa.org/
  • nathan_douglas 1y ago
    Ah, that's really cool and I'm going to stay the hell away lest it trigger my GAS :P