"I've had the pleasure" of hearing both Phantasm and Charivari Agreable in the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, and on the basis of that (this is the internet after all, who says one has to be qualified to offer an opinion!) I'd be surprised if it worked well. Even with superb players like those above, to my ear, viols get less and less convincing as the notes get shorter.
O'Carolan, yea, fine no doubt, etc.
Jigs and reels, I don't think so, but hey, who knows.......
Having had the rare accompaniment of instruments of those periods, it ain't half bad. Mostly they were just that, as accompaniment rather than as melody instruments... This includes the Lute. In all cases the musicians were accomplished and unblinkered. They had respect for what we play and they showed that respect further in how they played...
So, I guess, I'd have to say it depends on the musician rather than the instrument they're tottin'. I've known fiddlers, uilleann pipers, banjo pluckers and flute players, even accomplished ones, that would fall in to my category of the unsuitable, as far as who I enjoy listening to and sharing this tradition with.
Coincidentally I borrowed one short/long term off a folkie last night, I want to experiment with slow airs, laments and reels on it. I havent played a viol since 1986 so its going to be interesting.
I don't know a thing about viols but being a NZ-based violist who plays all her ITM (mostly Scottish, bit of Irish) exclusively on the middle fiddle I can say go for it Joze!
Annie, did you know a certain scottish fiddler is coming to nz to be a "beachbum" (her description) in October for a couple of years. Think back to January and Kumeu....one of the main acts. As for the Viola, I love the way you can get a viola to express what a violin can only imitate. My fiddle is a little better than most as the lower register is exceptionally rich and the bass bar hasnt been tweaked for orchestral use. One thing that I have noticed is that the way I hold a bow also works for the viola, I dont have the usual weakness problem that violinists have.
a viola and a viol isn't the same thing there's some mixing up here.
Joze i'm a viola player and i find your post interesting but i don't really understand. do you mean that by playing itm on the violIN you developped a bow technique that avoids weakness problems when playing a viola? how does that work? which way do you actually hold the bow?
i use a bow thats heavier and shorter than usual for tm on the viola but find the viola bow to slow and heavy.
Since you started this slainte I love the madness of this group, and have always loved string things, including the many takes on the wee Pouchette ~ and the viol d'amour & gamba ~
Again still don't know a darned thing about viols and am just responding to the violA bit... Yes yippee Joze I did know she's on her way back - said she would be based in Kerikeri and am looking forward to catching up with her again!!!
I play Irish Music on the viol, and though it's not the easiest thing in the world(lots of string crossing), I kind of dig it. the viol here is the pardessus, which is the smallest member of the family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OVtuquyPBw
viols in itm
viols in itm
what are peoples opinions on the suitability of viols in ITM.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: viols in itm
"I've had the pleasure" of hearing both Phantasm and Charivari Agreable in the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, and on the basis of that (this is the internet after all, who says one has to be qualified to offer an opinion!) I'd be surprised if it worked well. Even with superb players like those above, to my ear, viols get less and less convincing as the notes get shorter.
O'Carolan, yea, fine no doubt, etc.
Jigs and reels, I don't think so, but hey, who knows.......
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by TomB-R
Re: viols in itm
(Imitating ceolachan here)
On the other hand, listening to C17-18 French bass viol solos I've thought, "these are basically fiddle tunes."
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by TomB-R
Re: viols in itm
Having had the rare accompaniment of instruments of those periods, it ain't half bad. Mostly they were just that, as accompaniment rather than as melody instruments... This includes the Lute. In all cases the musicians were accomplished and unblinkered. They had respect for what we play and they showed that respect further in how they played...
So, I guess, I'd have to say it depends on the musician rather than the instrument they're tottin'. I've known fiddlers, uilleann pipers, banjo pluckers and flute players, even accomplished ones, that would fall in to my category of the unsuitable, as far as who I enjoy listening to and sharing this tradition with.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by ceolachan
Ahhhh, the viol d'amour...
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by ceolachan
Re: viols in itm
Now if only I could tuck a bass viol under my chin... I love those bows and all that gingerbread and think snakewood is cool...
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by ceolachan
Re: viols in itm
Coincidentally I borrowed one short/long term off a folkie last night, I want to experiment with slow airs, laments and reels on it. I havent played a viol since 1986 so its going to be interesting.
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by Joze
Re: viols in itm
dammit...viola I tend to think viol family.
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by Joze
Re: viols in itm
I don't know a thing about viols but being a NZ-based violist who plays all her ITM (mostly Scottish, bit of Irish) exclusively on the middle fiddle I can say go for it Joze!
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by violaannie9
Re: viols in itm
I believe you mean viola da gamba: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvGoarGfn4 It doesn't belong to the violin family.
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by slainte
Re: viols in itm
This is soprano viol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqSZzdmPSU
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by slainte
Slightly offtopic
Annie, did you know a certain scottish fiddler is coming to nz to be a "beachbum" (her description) in October for a couple of years. Think back to January and Kumeu....one of the main acts. As for the Viola, I love the way you can get a viola to express what a violin can only imitate. My fiddle is a little better than most as the lower register is exceptionally rich and the bass bar hasnt been tweaked for orchestral use. One thing that I have noticed is that the way I hold a bow also works for the viola, I dont have the usual weakness problem that violinists have.
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by Joze
Re: viols in itm
a viola and a viol isn't the same thing there's some mixing up here.
Joze i'm a viola player and i find your post interesting but i don't really understand. do you mean that by playing itm on the violIN you developped a bow technique that avoids weakness problems when playing a viola? how does that work? which way do you actually hold the bow?
i use a bow thats heavier and shorter than usual for tm on the viola but find the viola bow to slow and heavy.
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by Mina the Fiddler
Re: viols in itm
Since you started this slainte
I love the madness of this group, and have always loved string things, including the many takes on the wee Pouchette ~ and the viol d'amour & gamba ~
~ part deux
Hesperion XXI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zP5kNyDn88
# Posted on May 2nd 2008 by ceolachan
Re: viols in itm (O/T)
Again still don't know a darned thing about viols and am just responding to the violA bit... Yes yippee Joze I did know she's on her way back - said she would be based in Kerikeri and am looking forward to catching up with her again!!!
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by violaannie9
Re: viols in itm
I play Irish Music on the viol, and though it's not the easiest thing in the world(lots of string crossing), I kind of dig it. the viol here is the pardessus, which is the smallest member of the family:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OVtuquyPBw
# Posted on January 30th 2009 by masbrow