Viola bastarda

Viola bastarda viola da gamba of size intermediary between the bass and the tenor, with C or F holes, often an additional, circular soundhole under the fingerboard, and usually a scroll rather than a sculptured head. The earliest literary reference found so far occurs in Italy in 1589. Praetorius lists 5 tunings for the instr. The name bastarda probably derives from its tunings, which follow the principle of those of the lira da braccio (mixed 4ths and 5ths) rather than that of the viola da…