Viols in a sentence

Popularity The Smithsonian Consort of Viols, a contemporary viol consort Viols were second in popularity only to the lute (although this is disputed), and like lutes, were very often played by amateurs.

The typical Elizabethan consort of viols was composed of six instruments: two basses, two tenors and two trebles, or one bass, three tenors and two trebles (see Chest of viols ).

Another light collection suitable for including trombones is Anthony Holborne 's Pavans, Galliards, Allmains, and other short Aeirs both Grave and Light in Five Parts for Viols, Violins or Other Musicall Winde Instruments (1599).

Around 1660, gut or silk core strings overspun with copper wire first became available; these were then used for the lowest-pitched bass strings on viols, and on many other string instruments as well.

By the mid-16th century, however, "guitar-shaped" viols were fairly common, and a few of them survive.

By the mid-16th century, S-holes morphed into the classic F-shaped holes, which were then used by viols and members of the violin family alike.

However, some viols, both early and later, had carved tops, similar to those more commonly associated with instruments of the violin family.

However, viols fell out of use as concert halls grew larger and the louder and more penetrating tone of the violin family became more popular.

If one were to go searching for very early viols with smooth-curved figure-eight bodies, like those found on the only slightly later plucked vihuelas and the modern guitar, they would be out of luck.

In 16th century Italy, both "violas",—the early viols and violins—developed somewhat simultaneously.

In Italy, "viola" was first applied to a braccio precursor to the modern violin, as described by Tinctoris (De inventione et usu musice, c. 1481–3), and then was later used to describe the first Italian viols as well.

It has 21 tied nylon (adjustable) frets in keeping with the adjustable (tied gut) frets on traditional viols and has an effective playing range of more than six octaves.

It was also common to play music for violins or flutes or unspecified top parts on small viols.

Purely instrumental music included consort music for recorders or viols and other instruments, and dances for various ensembles.

Some other names for viols include viole or violle (French).

Soon after, however, viols adopted the wider and high-arched bridge that facilitated the bowing of single strings.

The bass violin was actually often referred to as a "violone," or "large viola," as were the viols of the same period.

The earliest of viols would also have had the ends of their fretboards flat on the deck, level with or resting upon the top or sound board.

The earliest viols had flat, glued-down bridges just like their plucked counterpart vihuelas.

The peg boxes of viols (which hold the tuning pegs) were typically decorated either with elaborate carved heads of animals or people or with the now familiar spiral scroll finial.