Viola d'Amore

The viola d'amore or viola "of love," is a bowed stringed instrument which gained great popularity in eighteenth century Europe. Much of its history, including the derivation of its name, is unknown. It has many characteristics of the viol family such as a flat back, ribs that are flush with the top and back, and a rosette in addition to soundholes. Yet, like a violin, the viola d'amore is unfretted and held under the chin while played. Violas d'amore typically have seven playing strings, though this is not standardized and instruments with other numbers of strings are not unusual. Perhaps the most distinguishable characteristic of the viola d'amore is the presence of sympathetic strings, which are not played, but located behind the bowed strings and vibrat "in sympathy." The sympathetic strings contribute to produe a tone that is clear and often described as "silvery." The sympathetic strings also make for a more resonant tone and a longer decay of each note. Sympathetic strings are found on several European folk instruments, including the Swedish nyckelharpa and the Norwegian hardanger fiddle. They are prevalent on strings instruments from India, most notably the sitar. Classical composers including J. S. Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, Haydn, and Locatelli, wrote music for the viola d'amore.


Description: Seven playing strings and seven sympathetic strings, viol-shaped body; high-arched spruce belly with almost flat top of arching, stained beech and maple purfling with faded stain, corners ornamented with inlaid triangles, flame soundholes, flush edges; flat plain maple back in one slab without purfling; plain maple ribs, neck, S-shaped pegbox and head; three types of boxwood and pear pegs; ebonized pear tailpiece; spruce cornerblocks, linings and soundpost board; fruitwood endpins, replacement maple bridge; original dark varnish scraped and sanded, now coated with medium brown shellac-based varnish, all edges rounded by scraping and sanding; open scroll with one turn; pegbox open at lower front and upper back and with incised ornaments on front and leaf with initials (possibly N) on back; sympathetic strings attached to wood pegs in lower block; badly fitted fingerboard and nut, soundpost missing. (R. Hopfner, 1997)