violone

views updated May 14 2018

violone. Imprecise term. In 16th and 17th cent. It., violone meant a viol and later a bass viol, especially the larger and deeper types of instr. such as the viola da gamba. During the Baroque period in Ger., violone meant a double bass, whereas in It. during the same period it meant an early type of violoncello.

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