A MYSTERIOUS FORGOTTEN INSTRUMENT: THE VIOLONCELLO DA SPALLA, A CELLO FOR VIOLINISTS

Abstract

As the title suggests, this article focuses on the violoncello da spalla, an instrument that fell into obscurity over the course of centuries and, since its re-emergence in the late 1990s, has been surrounded by considerable mystery. I first encountered references to this instrument in the late 2000s, through a Russian-born baroque violinist and instrument maker residing in the Netherlands. Already at that time, the instrument captured my attention due to its distinctive aesthetic qualities and unique sound. One might consider it remarkable: essentially a cello executed with violin technique—truly ingenious. In the present article, I aim to collect and synthesize the available information on this instrument. Drawing upon historical sources and illustrations, I will examine the various dimensions of period violoncelli da spalla, discuss aspects of its proper playing posture and stringing, and survey the repertoire composed specifically for it.