The viola d'amore (viola of love) is not a variant of the standard viola, but an entirely different instrument with sympathetic strings as well as bowed ones. The sympathetic strings cause a gentle, almost subliminal buzz that gives the instrument a quiet, sweet sound that no doubt suggested its name. Examples are not common, and the instrument is not easy to play; for these reasons alone, this release by the Chicago Baroque violinist Rachel Barton Pine is to be celebrated. The eight viola d'amore concertos represent ...
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The viola d'amore (viola of love) is not a variant of the standard viola, but an entirely different instrument with sympathetic strings as well as bowed ones. The sympathetic strings cause a gentle, almost subliminal buzz that gives the instrument a quiet, sweet sound that no doubt suggested its name. Examples are not common, and the instrument is not easy to play; for these reasons alone, this release by the Chicago Baroque violinist Rachel Barton Pine is to be celebrated. The eight viola d'amore concertos represent Vivaldi's total output for the instrument and were composed at different times. The late Concerto in D minor, RV 540, is for the extremely unusual combination of lute and viola d'amore, and it's gorgeous. The Concerto in F major, RV 97, is also unusual, calling for an all-winds orchestra (except for the continuo) with muted oboes and horns. Here too Vivaldi exploits the unusual sonorities. The rest of the concertos are in more common ritornello forms, with slow movements taking advantage...
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