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Daniel McCarthy

Metal and Gut: Two “Violas of Love”

Daniel McCarthy and the Viola d’Amore

Composer

Johann Sebastian Bach

Chamber Series

The Viola d’Amore was an instrument unique in timbre and resonance that evoked special emotions in operas and cantatas of the finest Baroque composers. With no uniform tuning or construction, surviving examples use anywhere from four to seven strings, with as many as 21 “sympathetic strings.” Two distinct versions of the instrument existed, one with bowed strings of gut, and another using metal wire—the type originally heard in J.S. Bach’s compositions. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel McCarthy will showcase both instruments, with collaborators David Ross, Margot Rood, and Marc Bellassai.

...

Chamber Series

The Viola d’Amore was an instrument unique in timbre and resonance that evoked special emotions in operas and cantatas of the finest Baroque composers. With no uniform tuning or construction, surviving examples use anywhere from four to seven strings, with as many as 21 “sympathetic strings.” Two distinct versions of the instrument existed, one with bowed strings of gut, and another using metal wire—the type originally heard in J.S. Bach’s compositions. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel McCarthy will showcase both instruments, with collaborators David Ross, Margot Rood, and Marc Bellassai.

Musicians

  • Dan McCarthy Dan McCarthy viola d’amore
  • David Ross David Ross baroque flute
  • Marc Bellassai Marc Bellassai harpsichord
  • Margot Rood Margot Rood soprano

More Information