Savannah Strings, Gasparo Da Salo models. A fine viola by Peter Yang of Chicago, 2006. Workshop of Steven Cundall, Texas- 'Giorgio Luigi Belloso' 2006. Workshop of Ming Jiang Zhu, Guangzhu, China, Andreas Eastman. 16' Violas: Alkis Rappas; Alkis S. Rappas started taking private violin lessons at the age of nine. Among them are a group of viols from northern Italy and England by makers such as Gasparo da Salo and Giovanni Maria da Brescia, together with citterns and guitars by Italian, French, and English makers. There is an exceptional sequence of violins, violas, and cellos by members of the Amati family, Antonio Stradivari, and several later craftsmen.

• Museum Violin Da Salon

Gasparo da Salò (Brescia, c. 1570)

Gasparo da Salò at an exhibition, Austria

Comparison of the f-holes of our tenor viol with one from a certified viola by this Brescian master confirm beyond all doubt the authorship of Gasparo da Salò, thus indicating a date of origin of circa 1570. (Contrary to other cities, the labels in Brescian instruments rarely showed the date) The tenor viol will be analysed dendrochronologically as soon as it arrives from France, where it has just been purchased.

José Vázquez and the luthier, Roland Houël examining the viol on the day of arrival in Thoiry, France.
Roland was responsible for finding this viol.

José Vázquez and Roland Houël in an exhalted state after examining all of the interior of the Gasparo da Salo
tenor viola da gamba in the house of Claudine Salomon, Thoiry, France.

An extremely rare example of a tenor viola da gamba by one of the most illustrious figures in violin making of all ages, Gasparo da Salò (1542-1609), founder of the Brescia School and teacher of Giovanni Paolo Maggini (see Nr. 99). The body of this instrument is almost intact, containing all of the interior bracings and the transverse bars of the belly. The neck and head are recent additions, which will be replaced as soon as the instrument is given over to restoration.

The acquisition of this highly important viola da gamba, a sensational event for the collection, was made possible only by the generous contributions of several friends and supporters of Orpheon: Jürg Merki, Angelika Thomas, Peter and Susanne Bosshard, Ruth Feller and others. Tenor viols are excedingly rare, almost never coming up for sale anywhere. It is for this reason that Orpheon wishes to expressly thank these patrons for their spontaneaous offer of financial assistance toward this purchase. Without their help, this instrument may never have been heard again on any concert stage; with their help, this instrument will remain in the hands of performers for a very long time to come.

The Italian Renaissance and Early Baroque viols in concert
Music for Charles V and Philip II – Cristóbal de Morales: Clamabat autem mulier

http://orpheon.org/wp-content/uploads/Music/04-Morales.m4a

Dendrochronology:

bass: 1512-1417

treble: 1515-1435

Body length	610 mm
Upper width	mm
Middle width	mm
Lower width	mm
Rib height	mm
String length	mm

Brescia School

The Brescia City, which located in the northern Italy, had long been famous for its industry in making string instruments and organs. In the 16th century, the first viola maker in history, Zanetto Micheli da Montichiaro(c. 1489-c. 1561), who was also the founder of the Brescia School, started his lengthy life as a luthier in Brescia.

Museum Violin Da Salon

During this century, Zanetto, Gasparo Bertolotti da Salo and Maggini had lead the violin-making industry of Brescia to the peak altogether. These luthiers had made a significant and unfading history in violin making.