A bass violin, also referred to as a violone, is a large stringed instrument that is played with a bow. The cello as we know it today evolved from this instrument. Bass violins are part of the larger viola da braccio family of instruments.
The term “viola” originally meant “stringed instrument.” As a result, a violino, or violin, was referred to as a “small viola.” A violone, on the other hand, was a “large viola.” When people created the viola da braccio family, they meant the largest instrument in the string family when they said violones. The term “violoncello” literally means “small big viola,” implying that the instrument was larger than violins and violas but not as large as a violone.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the first versions of the bass violin appeared. Three strings were used at first, but four strings became standard later. The strings were tuned in fifths as a general rule. When players drew the bow across the strings, the hollow body of the instrument provided resonance.
The modern cello is pitched one octave lower than the viola. Bass violins, on the other hand, were usually tuned one pitch lower, with the lowest string sounding like a B-flat rather than a C. However, because violincellos were developed over a long period of time, there was some tuning flexibility as instrument makers experimented with different sizes.
In the violin family, bass violins are no longer standard. Music became more complex, demanding instruments that were easier to play, and bass violins fell out of favor. The violincello’s smaller size compared to the bass violin allowed for more virtuosity because the cello was easier to position on the body and allowed for more finger movement. Although the bass violin has been replaced by the modern double bass, some people still refer to double basses as bass violins because violone technically just means “big viola.”
The majority of contemporary performances with a true bass violin concentrate on period pieces. The differences between the modern cello and the bass violin are generally well understood by period players. The players are able to perform the repertoire with a high level of authenticity thanks to this knowledge.
In comparison to the cello, a true bass violin typically has a shorter neck and fingerboard. A bass violin’s neck and fingerboard are also not as curved. Also, the bridge is lower, and the strings are thicker and less taut. Because of these differences, a bass violin’s sound isn’t quite as clear as that of a cello, and the bass violin isn’t quite as responsive.