A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Viol

VIOL (Ital. Viola; Fr. Viole) The generic English name of the bowed instruments which succeeded the mediæval Fiddle and preceded the Violin. The Viol was invented in the 15th century, and passed out of general use in the 18th. It differs from the violin in having deeper ribs, and a flat back, which is sloped off at the top, and was strengthened internally by cross-bars and a broad centre-piece, on which the sound-post rests. The shoulders curve upwards, joining the neck at a tangent, instead of at right angles, as in the violin. The neck is broad and thin, the number of strings being five, six, or seven; the peg-box is usually surmounted by a carved head. The soundholes are usually of the C pattern. [See Soundholes.] The Viol was made in four principal sizes—Treble or Discant, Tenor (Viola da Braccio), Bass (Viola da Gamba), and Double Bass (Violone): the last is still in use, the double bass of the violin pattern never having found general favour. The Viols are tuned by fourths and thirds, instead of fifths. Their tone is rather penetrating than powerful, and decidedly inferior in quality and flexibility to that of the violin, which accounts for their disappearance before the latter instrument. [See Violin.]

[ E. J. P. ]