Dictionary

viola bastarda en · NOUN

Etymology

From Italian viola bastarda (literally “bastard viol”).

Meanings

1. An altered viol maximizing players’ ability to play in a highly virtuosic style of composition or extemporaneous performance.
   • Another reference to Claudio Monteverdi’s court duties as a viola bastarda player is found at the end of his Scherzi Musicali, published in 1607. 2002, James Bates, “Monteverdi, the Viola Bastarda Player”, in Susan Orlando, editor, The Italian Viola da Gamba: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Italian Viola da Gamba, Edition Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, →ISBN, page 54:
   • Two more Viola Bastardas from the same collection are by “Batista fiel (son) d’Anto. Cicilian in Venetia.” 1910, The Strad, page 125:
   • In 1672 he visited Salzburg to make delivery to the court of a viola da gamba and two viola bastardas;[…] 1943, Violins and Violinists Magazine, page 368:

Forms

Synonyms

bastard viol