Definition

Noun: A stringed musical instrument, specifically a tenor viol, characterized by a warm, sweet tone and sympathetic strings that resonate beneath the played strings. It is a member of the viol family.

Usage

The term "viola d'amore" refers specifically to this distinct instrument. It is used as a singular noun to name the instrument itself, often in historical or specialized musical contexts.

Examples

• The soloist performed a beautiful Baroque sonata on the viola d'amore.
• The museum's collection includes a rare 18th-century viola d'amore.
• The piece calls for a viola d'amore to play the melodic line.

Advanced Usage

• The instrument's name, from Italian, translates to "viol of love," often attributed to its gentle, expressive sound.
• It is distinguished from other viols by its flat back, lack of frets, and the set of sympathetic metal strings that run underneath the fingerboard.

Variants and Related Words

• Viola (noun): A separate, modern bowed string instrument, larger than a violin but smaller than a cello. (Note: This is a distinct instrument, not a variant of the viola d'amore).
• Viol (noun): The family of bowed, fretted string instruments popular in the Renaissance and Baroque eras, to which the viola d'amore belongs.

Synonyms

• Tenor viol (This is a descriptive synonym, though "viola d'amore" is the precise name for this specific type of tenor viol).

Related Phrases

• Play the viola d'amore: To perform music using this instrument.
  • She learned to play the viola d'amore for the early music ensemble.
• Music for viola d'amore: Compositions written specifically for this instrument.
  • The concert featured music for viola d'amore and lute.

Noun

1. viol that is the tenor of the viol family