Brazilian Violas

Add a Comment

Comment by Fernando Lewis de Mattos on February 23, 2010 at 15:02

Hello Alexander,
I made a mistake about the period of the first viola, from Minas Gerais. It's really from 18th century, as you said. These violas are from 18th and 19th century.
I'll correct this information.
Thank you,
Fernando.

Comment by Alexander Batov on February 13, 2010 at 14:38

Hello Fernando,
It seems that the only way to clarify the situation is to ask your maker if he’s got some images of the original viola (the one that, as you state, is a ‘17th century’ model). If he made it he’d certainly know what sort of guide lines he followed, be it a real instrument or a picture etc. I’m sure that Manuel Morais (http://earlyguitar.ning.com/profile/ManuelMorais?xg_source=profiles...), who made extensive research on historical Portuguese violas of this kind, would be very interested to know about it too. As I’ve already mentioned I don’t believe that such violas had been in existence in the 17th century, late 18th – early 19th is rather more likely.
Best wishes,
Alexander

Comment by Fernando Lewis de Mattos on February 12, 2010 at 14:48

Hello, Alexander
finally I improve the quality of Brazilian violas photos.
That's right, these violas have fixed frets, but I suppose recontruction follows original models, because these luthiers (Pinheiro and Vieira) are specialyzed in baroque guitars and lutes. I had a Renaissance lute made by Jorge Vieira with mouveble frets. But really I don't know the original instruments, that are in a museum in the other side of Brazil.
My bests,
Fernando.

Comment by Alexander Batov on January 25, 2010 at 13:33

Thanks very much, Fernando, for uploading the pictures. Well as I now understand the instrument you referred to earlier as “Brazilian viola from the 17th century” is actually a replica, which, in a way, makes more sense.

In any case it would be rather stretching too much to refer to such type of a viola as a “17th century instrument”. To my knowledge there is a number of original(!) surviving violas of this kind, all from the second half of the 18th century. At least three of them are in UK (in Horniman and Ashmolean museums, and in the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments). The one in Edinburgh is in totally original condition and, apparently, has tied-on frets in gut, not like on the reproduction you have uploaded which looks as having fixed metal frets (please correct me if I’m wrong).

Do you actually know of any original 18th century violas that may have survived in Brazil? Perhaps the maker who made the reproduction would know?

Best wishes,
Alexander