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Definition of Bass viol
1. Noun. Viol that is the bass member of the viol family with approximately the range of the cello.
2. Noun. Largest and lowest member of the violin family.
Generic synonyms: Bass, Bowed Stringed Instrument, String
Definition of Bass viol
1. Noun. A fretted, bowed, stringed musical instrument from the viola da gamba family. It occupies the bass range and is the lowest instrument in the family. Similar to (but smaller than) a cello. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Literary usage of Bass viol
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1890)
"then being built, the double bass viol was used as a sub-bass. For this purpose
the three highest strings were probably soon found to be useless, ..."
2. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians by George Grove (1910)
"We may, however, assume that it was employed as a sub-bass in octaves to the
voice and bass viol. Strung with three, four, five, and even six strings, ..."
3. A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (A.D. 1450-1880) by George Grove, John Alexander Fuller-Maitland (1889)
"It completely revolutionised the fiddle-maker's art, driving out of use first
the Discant Viol, then the Tenor, and last of all the bass viol. ..."
4. The Life of Laurence Sterne by Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald (1864)
"STERNE PLATS UPON THE bass viol. " Ptr—r—r—ing—twing-twang—prut-prut. 'Tis a
cursed bad fiddle! Do you know whether my fiddle's in tune or no ? Trut—prut. ..."
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