View source for Division viol

{{short description|English stringed instrument}}
{{Infobox Instrument
|name=  Division viol
|names=
|image=Christopher Simpson.jpg
|classification=
*[[Bowed string instrument]]
|range=
|related= 
* [[Viol]] }}

[[Image:Christopher Simpson.jpg|thumb|right|From ''The Division-viol'', an explanation and illustration of proper posture while playing the viol. It reads "Holding the bow in this posture, stretch out your arm, and draw it first over one string and then another; crossing them in right angle, at the distance of two or three inches from the bridge. Make each several string yield a full and clear sound; and order your knees so, that they be no impediment to the motion of your bow."]]

The '''division viol''' is an English type of bass [[viol]], which was originally popular in the mid-17th century, but is currently experiencing a renaissance of its own due to the movement for [[historically informed performance]]. [[John Playford]] mentions the division viol in his ''A Brief Introduction'' of 1667, describing it as smaller than a [[consort of instruments|consort]] bass viol, but larger than a [[lyra viol]].<ref name="Viol">{{cite Grove |last1=Traficante |first1=F |title=Division viol  |url= |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.07871 |language=en |date=2001}} {{subscription required}}</ref> 

As suggested by its name, ([[Division (music)|divisions]] were a type of [[variations (music)|variations]]), the division viol is intended for highly [[Ornament (music)|ornamented]] music, and for [[Musical improvisation|improvisations]]. The division viol also had a very large [[Range (music)|range]] with the [[Musical tuning|tuning]] D–G–c–e–a–d', resulting in the ability of skilled players to play divisions on any part in a [[polyphonic]] vocal piece.<ref name="Viol"/>

The division viol may be historically connected with the [[viola bastarda]], and came into being in the mid-17th century in [[England]].<ref name="Viol"/> Music for the division viol was mainly linear, although there were occasionally lyra-like passages, and music for it was written on a staff, rather than in [[tablature]] like the lyra viol's music.

[[Christopher Simpson (musician)|Christopher Simpson]], a prominent viol player, wrote a treatise on how to play the division viol, aptly titled ''The Division-viol, or The Art of Playing ex tempore to a Ground'' (1665), and also ''The Division-Violist'' (1659). Both of these are frequently used as references by those interested in historically informed performance on the viol.

Although the division viol is a specialized instrument for playing divisions, divisions of the same period that this instrument flourished were almost as likely to be played on a consort bass or a lyra viol, and instruments constructed as division viols were certainly used in consorts when called upon.<ref name="Division">{{cite Grove |last1=Traficante |first1=F |title=Division |url= |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.07870 |language=en |date=2001}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Internet Archive|divisionviolisto0000fait|''The Division Viol'' (Simpson)}}
*{{Internet Archive|introosk00play|''A Brief Introduction'' (Playford)}} 

{{Viol family}}

[[Category:Viol family instruments]]
[[Category:Renaissance music]]