Lirone

The lira da gamba (also: Lirone, lirone perfetto, arciviola since lira ) is a historic stringed instrument that remained in Italy until the mid -17th century. It was equipped as the deepest instrument Lirafamilie with many strings that ran on the fretboard and partly next to this as so-called drones. The Lirone was - especially in Italy - as a basso continuo instrument used.

The lira da gamba, a viola da gamba as held between the knees, as these had mostly frets ( accruals on the pitch ), and between nine and sixteen strings. A shallow ridge allowed rich chordal playing, which is why this Basslira was particularly suited to the accompaniment of solo singing.

Other types

The Meyers Encyclopedia of 1905 indicates that the instrument has been built in two other sizes:

• Da braccio with seven finger - and two Bordunseiten, Tenor instrument ( held at arm) as Lira
• As Archi viola da lira ( " Lirone " or " Accordo " ) with up to 24 strings, double bass instrument ( musical reasons it now appears that the use of a chordal instrument in contrabass doubtful).