Viola da Gamba Society of America

1763

Treble ?

Zacharias

Fischer

# of Strings:

6

Place Made:

D, Würzburg

Body Shape:

Viol

Current Location:

E, Barcelona

Sound Holes:

Flame

Collection:

Conservatory of Music

Head:

Scroll

Catalog Number:

MDMB 696 (formerly 280)

Label Text:

Zacharias Fischer Hochfürstl. Lauten und Geigenmacher in Wirzburg 1763 [printed except 63, which are unclear]

Measurements:

String Length:

37

Total Length:

​

Body Length:

39.2

Upper Width:

19.4

Rib Depth:

4.8

Middle Width:

13.1

Bottom Width:

24.3

Previous Owner:

​

Information Source:

Escalas 1992, p. 154; PT visit 10/78

Literature:

Photographs:

Recordings:

Auctions:

Comments:

Escalas 1992, p. 154

On museum’s website, via MIMO (front [color])

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Museum classifies as viola d’amore, noting transformation into a treble viol (perhaps in 1893); clear traces of 7 sympathetic strings. Flat back and unpointed corners but square shoulders. Repair labels: “Compuesto por Diego Sanchez Madrid 1893”; “Reparado en 1949 I. Fleta Barcelona” (bridge by him). Fingerboard original, tailpiece not. Tourin: arm viol. Danks 1976, p. 90, quoting a museum curator: “The instrument originally had 7 playing and 7 sympathetic strings, but has been converted at some time to an instrument of 6 playing strings without sympathetic strings.”