I’m a professional cellist who is learning to play the gamba (7 string!). What an incredible instrument it is! After discovering Jordi Savall and the gamba after seeing “Tous les Matins du Monde” back in 1992 I fell in love with the sound of the gamba plus it’s repertoire. Much as I love the cello, I love the sound of the gamba even more. Finding your videos was a happy coincidence, and I look forward to watching all of your videos. Best wishes.🎵
I've made a 35 yr career in classical guitar but would switch to gamba in a heartbeat if I could find and afford one. However there isn't much chance of ever becoming any good at it at my age.
I think my favorite thing about this is that we finally understand why "It's not a cello." Thank you for making this incredibly informative video, Águeda! Educate us all on the early music instruments!
I loved this!! It was very informative and the editing was very well done. I had no idea that the tuning would be different as well and I hadn’t noticed that it had frets before either!
@@TheGambaGeek :) Your video was really informative for me. (I am writing a master's thesis on the classification of musical instruments and now working on a string-bow group).
@The Gamba Geek Nice and concise, just one thing: It’s not true that the contrabass isn’t from the violin family; neither is the opposite: historically there have been more hybrid instruments than there have not in the double bass register. It seems that - with differences as to location - both the violone and the contrabass were used to complement a consort, depending on availability. Also, instruments were subject to change in either direction. And one on the term “violone”: Again, locally, the term was not only used for 16 foot register instruments (Bach uses "violone" for the contrabass btw) but also, in Northern Italy in and around Bologna in the final decades of the 16hundreds, for an 8 foot instrument that was, if looked at with our eyes, a very big cello.
excellent explanation! I like the idea of the frets working to "create" open strings. One other thing you might add is that gambas are tuned like guitars (i.e. 4-4-3-4-4).
fui conhecer o instrumento há poucas semanas. Estava assistindo um filme de animação com alguns amigos (Sussurros do Coração) e em uma cena aparece um personagem tocando um "violoncelo esquisito". Achei assombroso quando vi, porque pensei que era um violoncelo mal desenhado, e pesquisando um pouco mais vi alguns vídeos sobre a Viola da Gamba, e nossa... fiquei impressionado! Adorei o vídeo, pude entender melhor algumas diferenças entre os dois instrumentos, e virei fã da viola da gamba e do canal
Oi Matheus! Primeiro, desculpa a demora em responder, eu tava num "detox" de vida digital :) Adoro Estúdio Ghibli e to super feliz que pude te mostrar coisas novas! Abracao!
Oh, how much I needed this! And finally, a few years after 'Tous les Matins du Monde' I found YOU!!! Thank you, it's super cool and clear explanation, joy to watch.
Isn’t that the best film? It is my favorite film and turned me into a diehard fan of Jordi Savall and the viola da gamba. The soundtrack has to be the most beautiful one ever recorded. Six years ago I was blessed to meet Savall, and when I told him that he was my music hero he gave me a great big hug and thanked me. My feet didn’t touch the floor for several days afterwards! I’m learning to play the the bass gamba which is very different from the cello which I play and teach professionally. However, it’s been a rewarding experience. Check out the book that the film is based on. “All the Mornings in the World”. I can’t remember who the author is. The translation from the French is beautifully done, and it’s a quick read. Did the ending in M. Sainte-Colombe’s cabin with Marais as they talk and finally play together make you weep? Every time I watch that ending it affects me the same way. Nothing expresses what it means to be a real musician vs. a “trained monkey” or someone who’s only in it for fame and fortune as that scene does. When I’ve shown it to other musician friends they react the same way.
Szabina, I made a mistake with the title of the book because I translated it straight from the French. The title is “All the World’s Mornings” and the author is Pascal Quignard. By the way, your name is so lovely. What nationality are you?
@@monicacall7532 I'm from Hungary :-) The film's title in Hungarian was "Minden áldott reggel"~Every Single Morning, so your 'mistake' doesn't really make a big difference to me :-) It's definitely one of the best films, really cathartic. And it's not only the end that can make me weep... I've been listening to the soundtrack ever since I first heard it
@@szabinamijo I was quite sure that your name was Hungarian because it started with Sz. I LOVE Hungary because I had an opportunity to visit there 20 years ago to see the music education system that Zoltan Kodaly founded in schools from the nursery school level through college level all over the country. Then I was fortunate enough to do my first year of the Kodaly training while I was there. Hungary is such a beautiful country, and the people are so kind and gracious. Everywhere my three colleagues and I went we were treated with such kindness. The Kodaly training completely changed my life as a musician, and I use my training in my teaching all of the time. Where in Hungary do you live?
Hello Águeda Macías from Mexico. It’s an excellent answer to know about the Gamba. Have you ever talk about Arpeggione? Or have you ever thought talking about that ?You know a outstanding sonata for that instrument by Schubert. Gracias
Very good explanation! I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't heard of this instrument before seeing your channel, but I think I might like it better than the violin family of instruments. Really cool!
Thank you! And don't be ashamed, it's an unusual instrument :) I suggest that you look for Jordi Savall's videos on RU-vid, you'll definitely going to like them!
@@TheGambaGeek I came across Jordi Savall not too long ago, and he has to be one of my favourite musicians out there. It's very rare to see someone who demonstrates as much musical sensitivity as I've heard from him and his ensemble.
A cello is just a big violin. It's full name is violoncello. Or perhaps to put it another way it's basically a baritone violin. Now I know there is already two other instruments called the baritone violin but they're all pretty similar in range and all just variations on the same family of instruments.
Tuvé razon!! Hablas Portuguesa. Pensé que hablas Español o Portuguesa. No puedo hablar Portuguesa. Espero que comprendas español. Podría aprender rápidamente porque son semejantes y aprendé l'italino en uno año!! Semejante también pero a veces más semejante al francés. Me considero como un linguista. Soy pianista también!
@@Alwpiano bom dia. Sim estudei piano quando jovem. Com 50 anos aprendi violoncelo e com 60 anos fiz curso superior de violoncelo. Bacharelado e após fui aprender Viola da Gamba, mas não dei continuidade....amo a música!
Hi! It all depends on where do you live! I'd advise to look for your country viola da gamba association, or website, facebook group, to get to know people and find one of those: 1. A luthier nearby 2. A nice used instrument 3. A viola da gamba to rent If I can help you with anything, please say :)
se não me engano o jaques morelenbaum usa um cello de 5 cordas, que foi desenvolvido por ele junto com um luthier... eu nunca vi nem ouvi falar de outro cello de 5 cordas alem do que ele usa
haha poisé, no período barroco tinha muita experimentacao na construcao de instrumentos. Inclusive, alguma daquelas suites famosas do Bach pra cello foi composta pra cello de 5 cordas. (ou seriam todas? nao sei, fica aí a curiosidade pela metade kkkk)
I am a (rather terrible) cello player (I play the piano much better), but I have to say, I think I like the gamba more than the cello. It has a nicer, sweeter, more resonant sound, and the cello, I feel, sacrifices that in exchange for more power, which is what made it prevail as music got louder and more dynamic. Yet I would take the sweetness and delicacy of the gamba over the power of the cello. I actually got to play a gamba a few times, obviously with no success, mostly because I was not used to the layout of the strings. Also, I see you took a still from emilyplayscello at the end there. I discovered your channel because of her.
I also love the sound of the cello, but as you said, the sweetness of the gamba stole my heart :) Have you tried playing cello with gut strings? I think it sounds amazing. Less potent, but warmer, more intimate. And nice that you recognized Emily's video :) I'm a fan of hers!
@@TheGambaGeek I wish I could have gut strings for my cello. Truth be told, my cello is kind of a piece of crap, and I plan to get a better one once I can afford it. It's not the worst cello I have ever played on; my cello can produce a good sound if you work really hard, but it responds very poorly and the fingerboard geometry is wrong. Maybe one day, I might get a gamba (and possibly a lute or theorbo), but I better watch that my instrument collection doesn't get out of control. The old electric church organ I dragged into my house about three months ago has basically taken over my living room already.
I know exactly what you mean! My viola da gamba is a student model. I love her, she produces a beautiful sound, but she needed some alterations. And about the ever growing instrument collection, I just bought a lute guitar xD
Caceta, mulher, tu é BR? Jesus, como tem gente talentosa que a gente vai descobrindo aos poucos! Cheguei pelo vídeo de Harvest Moon, Breeze, porque desde o anúncio do remake não paro de ver as soundtracks hehehe Muito bom, adorei o instrumento, esse tipo de violoncelo eu não conhecia. Me pergunto se sairia um cover da música que o Gustafa toca ao vivo, vou caçar o link pra colar. Nunca vi ninguém tocar e é simplesmente magnífica. Edit: Tá aqui o link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eAAi6orOWSE.html
I only know about this instrument because of you and already looked it up. The video still contained new information for me though, so thanks for that :) Can you play harmonics on a viola da gamba aswell?
how did you start on viola da gamba? is it an instrument you’ve always played since as a child? because what I usually see are gamba players that are/we’re actually cellists that start playing gamba, which will be my case (I’m a cellist and I really want to learn and start playing viola da gamba)
Hi! I started as an adult, and I had never played a string instrument before. My first instrument was the piano. I found out about the viola da gamba through Jordi Savall's CDs when I worked at a bookstore :) Fell in love and changed instruments. I was already 24. About other violists/gambists: I know many people who started with the cello, but also many that started with the bass, recorder, piano, and even some lucky ones that studied viola da gamba since they were children (they play so organically!). Because you're a cellist, you'll have an easier time learning the viola da gamba than I did, even with the different tuning and grip. It took me a long time to "understand" bowing and I'm still working on improving my right hand to express myself better. You'll definitely make progress faster :)
Thanks so much for this video! I play the contrabass, so our instruments are kind of cousins, no? All one big, happy family! 😊 I was wondering, do you have gut strings on your instrument? If so, what brand of guts do you like the best? I’m considering getting gut strings for my bass, but they are very expensive for an instrument that size! Anyway, great video. Keep up the great work!! ❤️
Yes they are kind of cousins! I never heard a bass with gut strings, it must sound so warm! I mean, I've heard violones, but I imagine a bass will have a bigger sound. I use gut strings from Aquila on my gamba, I really like them and they have a good value/price. I hope you find strings that aren't crazy expensive so you can try them out :) Thanks for watching! ❤
It really has more in common with the lute, especially since both have frets, gut strings, and are tuned with the major third interval between the 3rd and 4th highest strings. The Tenor VdG has EXACTLY the same tuning as a lute.
Olá moça! Uma dúvida.. Acompanho seu canal desde o ano passado, muito show tu tocar esse instrumento assim, parabéns! E deixe-me perguntar, você já viu as versões de Arpeggiones\GuiatrViols (Guitarras hibridas Cello\Gamba) incríveis e modernas, especialmente do Togaman? Usadas por produtores famosos, em filmes e séries, como, Got, até? Pergunto, pois sou guitarrista e gostaria de arriscar construir um instrumento próprio assim semi acústico ou tmb elétrico maciço, a dificuldade principal para mim, é entender um braço desses (ainda mais 7 cordas), no nivelamento do raio composto.. , onde há ainda modernos 22-24 trastes de aço curvados na escala, permitindo muito mais possibilidades com conforto, se pode tocar de pé, e na diagonal como uma guitarra.. Está dificil conseguir informação dessa fabricação da escala tipica da Gamba\Bass.. Se você conhecer algum professor\luthier disposto a ensinar sobre Gambas, nesse quesito, agradeço ! Irei buscar mais pessoas, info, em Curitiba... Deixo aqui abaixo exemplares desse instrumento, a vantagem tmb, é que você poder usar uma variedade de cordas, e timbres, das de tripas, a de aço guitarra\violão nele, (talvez por existir um tensor que permite essa pressão), e se pode arriscar bends altos tmb. link 1 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CYkjrXjbTBc.html link 2 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xST7DBjrrC8.html link 3 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5V_C3-oN6Vs.html
Hi Robson! Tudo bom? Obrigada por acompanhar minha jornada! Olha, esses instrumentos eu vejo de vez em quando pela internet mas nao posso dizer que conheco bem. Eu te indico conversar com o Roberto Guimaraes, ele é luthier e mora em Minas Gerais, mas podes encontrá-lo no Facebook e Instagram. Ele é autodidata e constrói nao só gambas como cria instrumentos, entao acho que ele vai poder te ajudar! Boa sorte e me manda notícias dessa construcao aí, quero ver e ouvir o instrumento pronto :)))
@@TheGambaGeek Hi, bom dia! Eu que agradeço, e Continue dando vida a Gamba! :) Acabei de ouvir um tema do Age of Empires, e pensei, poxa preciso tocar essa tema com arco! xD Irei entrar em contato sim com ele, e com outros, até obter todos os dados, obrigado! Inclusive essa semana, achei um grupo no Face de Gambas, que aparecia sua pessoa lá tb Hahah. Opa, eu conseguindo, mostro sim, tmb sou autodidata como artista plastico etc, vou deixar um vídeo onde construí meu 1º instrumento, (pra começar a aprender), um " Banjjntar" de alumínio (meio steampunk\éfico) : facebook.com/robson.berzerker/videos/1129696760501153/ :)
Sure! First, the similarities: the baroque cello is also held in the player's legs like a viola da gamba and both use gut strings. For the differences: the baroque cello has 4 strings tuned in fifths. The viola da gamba has 6 or 7 strings tuned in fourths with a third in the middle. The viola da gamba always has frets, and the baroque cello doesn't have them. The shape and construction is also different, for example, the viola da gamba has a flat back. Soundwise, the cello sounds more penetrant, and the viola da gamba sounds warmer, more nasal and has more ressonance. As soons as the lockdown restrictions are lifted where I live, I'll make a video with a baroque cellist friend to show the differences in sound :)
The bass viola da gamba can also be tuned in upwards of 50 different tunings. The most important difference between the cello and the bass viola da gamba is that the cello can play much louder than the viola da gamba. This is because the viola da gamba has a much lighter construction, a flat back, and gut strings. The modern cello has none of these features. Good introduction to the viola da gamba.
Do you know if there’s any documentation on how loud the Viol gets in decibels? Has anyone measured and compared it to other instruments? (The tenor and treble too)
Hi! There are few violas da gamba on modern music today. There's an austalian jazz band that I really like called Elysian Fields that has an electric viola da gamba on it :) Super cool and classy. Jenny Eriksson, the gambist of Elysian Fields, created some playlists on Spotify called Viol Moderns and there's also a Facebook group called Modern Gamba, maybe you can find more info there!
Hello! Sorry for taking so long to answer, I took a big break from the digital life :D So, to be completely honest, I don't know! The instrument is just like that. But I can tell you that by the way the neck is attached to the body of the viol, you can't really put an 8th or 9th fret (there's a big chunk of wood and no place to tie it in the back). There's a book from the 17th Century where the composer suggests tying an 8th fret far away, marking the octave. I never saw any other gambists doing that and, from what I heard, it's pretty difficult to tie frets at a high-pitched region of the viola da gamba without making the nearby notes out of tune. So, that's my full "I don't know" answer :)
Hi! I don't know why it happened, it was a problem during recording. Sadly there's no fixing it, after a video is uploaded to RU-vid we can't change it.
Although we call it "the violin family", we really should call it "the viola da braccio (viola of the arm) family". The violin (violino) is a small viola. I was disappointed that you hardly discussed the tone difference between violoncello and VdG. I think that the gamba has a much more subtle, sinuous, variable, and vocal quality than the cello.
I say I'm a great pianist but I'd make a useless cellist, violinist, or violist. It looks tricky. I sense you're maybe Spanish or Portuguese from the name? If not, then somewhere in America where those languages are spoken?
You can't say you'd make a useless string player before you try it! :D Yes, I'm Brazilian and my name comes from the Portuguese/Spanish side of the family. Thanks for coming by!
@@TheGambaGeek uff thanks, I'm glad my audio is OK :D Great instrument info! :) can cello players play gamba and vice versa? :) I mean at least kind of or is it easier for them to learn?
I think it might be easier to learn because the person already "understands" how a bow works, but I couldn't say! I have to try a cello to answer that :)
- A cello can have 4 to 5 strings; a gamba 5 to 8. - The cello and the gamba can be tuned in many different ways. - The cello can be played with an underhand grip as well. This is a really inaccurate video.
