Is not the Italian term "viola" the equivalent of the Spanish "vihuela' and the Portugese "violao"? And, as I understand it, these terms were origially applied to any stringed instrument. Hence, in Spain a plucked instrument was a "vihuela de mano" and a bowed instrument was a "vihuela de arco". Thus, we must be clear that the term viola is not refering to the modern instrument known as the viola.
Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alice Renken" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Fred Chandler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:09 PM Subject: Re: [Viols] "cello" > Nope, sorry, Fred. The root word here is "viola". The diminutive > ending is "ino", giving "violino", "little viola". "ello" is an > aggrandizing ending, so "violoncello" is "big viola". The ending > "one" is super-aggrandizing, so "violone" means "super-big viola". > Which is exactly what the cello and double bass are. > On Mar 15, 2007, at 6:42 PM, Fred Chandler wrote: > > > > > > > Re""Many words that are common usage derive from parts of the > > original, > > like "cellist" for "violincellist." The suffix "cello" is a > > significator > > meaning large, so, cellist really has no meaning. > > > > "Gambist" is certainly the most recognizable title for a person who > > plays the viola da gamba. I don't have any problem with "violist da > > gamba" except for its awkwardness--but over the years have moved > > towards > > using "gambist" (just as have moved towards using "gamba" for the > > instrument), especially for an audience unfamiliar with the instrument > > that is likely to confuse it with a viola. > > > > Virginia Kaycoff "" > > > > Hi Virginia, > > > > Surely violoncello means little violone. I have always believed that > > Botticelli the artist's name meant little barrel. But I agree with you > > on using the word gambist. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Fred Chandler. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Viols mailing list > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://lists.sandwich.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/viols > > > @ Alice Brin Renken, Executive Secretary > | | Viola da Gamba Society of America > | | [EMAIL PROTECTED] > | | > ( ) > > < > <( )> > _\ /_ > > > > _______________________________________________ > Viols mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.sandwich.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/viols > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: 3/15/2007 11:27 AM > > To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
