Viola Toeira
The Viola Toeira is a stringed musical instrument from Portugal. It has 12 strings in 5 courses. The strings are made of steel. It is tuned A3 A3 A2, D3 D3 D2, G3 G2, B3 B3, E3 E3.
A plan of the body shape of a Viola Toeira, with typical soundboard decoration and bridge design. | |
String instrument | |
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Classification | String instrument |
Hornbostel–Sachs classification | (Composite chordophone) |
Related instruments | |
Viola caipira, Viola Beiroa, Viola Braguesa, Viola Campanica, Viola Da Terra, Viola De Arame, Viola Sertaneja, Viola Terceira, Viola Amarantina. |
The name of the instrument comes from the strings used on the third course – "toeiras".[1] It is characterized by having a standard or small neck-to string-length ration, high bridge position, oval soundhole and headstock with an open design.[2] The viola toeira is a larger version of the viola braguesa.[3]
The body of the Viola Toeira is slender in shape, similar to the baroque guitar. Like most Portuguese violas, it has a typical bridge design in which the bridge and saddle are separate. The strings are first tied round a piece of wood that is glued to the soundboard, and then run over a separate floating bridge that is left unglued.
References
- Tyler, James; Sparks, Paul (2007). The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era. Oxford University Press. p. 216. ISBN 0-19-921477-8.
- The Galpin Society Journal 59 (May 2006) p.123-137, 252-256
- "Dolmetsch Online : Music Dictionary". Retrieved January 34, 2011. Check date values in:
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