Violas d’amore are stringed musical instruments from the viol family with two sets of strings: one for playing and the other for reverberation. The viola and the violin have a lot in common with this instrument. It was most popular in central Europe during the Baroque period, but it is still performed a small number of modern musicians in orchestras and concert halls around the world.
The number of strings distinguishes the viola d’amore from either a viola or a violin. The d’amore has between six and seven strings, each of which is paired with a sympathetic string, whereas violas and violins typically have four. Sympathetic strings aren’t played at all. They do, however, reverberate when the strings above them are struck, giving the music a deep, often melancholic tone.
The d’amore, like the rest of the violin family, is designed to be played with a bow under the chin. Despite the additional strings, the viola d’amore’s range of playable notes is usually comparable to that of other comparable instruments. The sympathetic strings are tuned to the same pitch as the playing strings, which helps. The majority of the difference is in the sound quality, not the number of sounds that can be produced.
In the musical community, there is some debate about how the instrument got its name. The “viola of love,” as the instrument’s direct translation from Italian is known, is the most common understanding. The instrument’s intensely emotional reverberation melodies, as well as the cupid heads adorning many of the most antique models, support this theory.
Another hypothesis is that the name comes from the expression da more, which means “of the Moors.” The term “Moor” was used loosely in medieval Europe to refer to anyone of South Asian, African, or Middle Eastern ancestry. The viola d’amore’s earliest examples featured flaming sword-shaped holes in the body, which were reminiscent of Islamic art of the time. The viola d’amore is thought to have developed from standard viols as a result of Middle Eastern influence, with sitars and other bowed instruments from the region serving as models.
Whatever its exact origins, there is little doubt that the viola d’amore reached its pinnacle in the mid-to-late 17th century. Austria, Germany, and Italy were the countries where it was most popular. Contemporaries of both Bach and Mozart were among the most prominent musicians, with Vivaldi standing out for a number of concertos written specifically for the viola d’amore.
Even today, the d’amore is rarely a musician’s first instrument, despite the fact that it is its own instrument. Violinists who have mastered the violin strings and chords usually progress to the viola d’amore. Although the instrument is more difficult to play, it requires many of the same fundamental skills.