Slightly off-topic, but I know we have a few specialists around. I have string parts in mid-17th-century (1646) Italian pieces that are marked for "2 viole", without any other specification. One is in C3 clef, and the other in regular bass clef. Two other parts in G clef are clearly marked for violins. What type of instruments would be required here in your opinion, violin family, or viol family?
Thanks,
Dennis
Based only on the information you give, I would suspect a 2nd viola (violin family) rather than a viol. The 17th century Italian tendency was to favor the violin family instruments in this generation before Corelli, whereas the music of Schuetz and the music from the French court used viols as both ensemble and solo instruments. Key would be how the 1st viola part is labeled. Equally key would be the range covered by the part, regardless of the clef (see below). After all, musicians were trained in the use of the 9 movable clefs and not slavishly locked into reading only a single or a couple of clefs.
I would also wonder whether the part was intended for the elusive and somewhat hypothetical tenor violin, tuned an octave below the violin and filling in the range between the viola and the cello. I can picture bass clef being used for such an instrument. In 5-part string writing, as in Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" and much French court music, such an instrument would serve admirably as a "2nd viola" on the 4th line down, and might even serve as Bach's "violoncello piccolo" since it would almost surely have to be played vertically unless the player were a giant of a man.
In examining the range of the part, keep in mind that 17th century composers tended (no absolute rule, of course) to avoid using the lowest string a great deal, since the thick gut strings (or lightly overspun strings) in use at the time would have produced a more muffled sound than modern strings do.
John
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