what does Gamba mean?

[Eric Rene Roy]

Just thought I'd share this. My wife asked me last night what "gamba" meant, other than as a shape identifier. I had several anecdotal answers...but nothing concrete. So I started looking. Shrimp? No. To pair? No. Ahhh...found it!

The string instrument family was identified one of two ways. Viola da gamba and viola da braccio.

Da Gamba: for the legs
Da Braccio: for the arms

So there you have it! It was to categorize the instruments based on how you hold them. Now we just use it to identify bass shapes as it is the only "modern" orchestral stringed instrument that can still retain its most ancient shape.

I'm sure some of you already knew this. I felt like I should have known this! But now that I do...I share with you!

So...save me the research (I'm being lazy this morning). Where does Busetto come from?

[Eric Swanson]

Dear Eric,

Both interesting and sensible. Thank you for sharing it.

Was playing a viola da gamba, briefly, two weeks ago (pretty ineptly, I should add); of course, one does hold it cradled in the legs, as you say. While I do have some work-place-learned Italian, I failed to make the connection.

Don't know about Busetto...didn't this come up recently, here, or was it over at Ken Smith's place? I can't recall if the answers were silly, meaningful, or both...

Thanks again.

[Bass Barrister]

If you gamba too much and don't pay your IOUs, Louie da Braccio goes for your arms.

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by eroy

So...save me the research (I'm being lazy this morning). Where does Busetto come from?

The town the style was developed in. It's not Italian for "love handles."

[Eric Rene Roy]

Busetto, Italy...a Tuscan thing then. Any specific maker from this region taking the crown as the first? I'm limited to my Blackberry right now (and I should be shaping some corners, not typing here!!!) So I can't "research" makers right now.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by eroy

Just thought I'd share this. My wife asked me last night what "gamba" meant, other than as a shape identifier. I had several anecdotal answers...but nothing concrete. So I started looking. Shrimp? No. To pair? No. Ahhh...found it!

You could have found it right here in your own backyard. Read from post #36.

[Eric Rene Roy]

Ahh...I guess in all the silliness I missed the gem. O'well...

[ynie92992]

Sigged,about when you gamba too much! Thanks for sharing that nugget of information.

[CalebWilson]

Originally Posted by billyfalconer

The town the style was developed in. It's not Italian for "love handles."

I lol'ed very hard.

I've never been fond of the Busetto shape; I have indeed thought of it as a Double Bass with a muffin top.
Though it certainly does seem to command more respect from non-players (since it looks liek soo weird), from what I've heard.

[Brandon Tuomiko]

Busettos are so weird. they are real funny shapped. Look it up. Of course basses like that are $10,000 or very very old

[Michael Glynn]

Originally Posted by eroy

Busetto, Italy...a Tuscan thing then. Any specific maker from this region taking the crown as the first? I'm limited to my Blackberry right now (and I should be shaping some corners, not typing here!!!) So I can't "research" makers right now.

There was a thread a while ago that went over some of this stuff. The term Bussetto (Busetto, Busseto) derives, rightly or wrongly, from Giovanni Maria del Bussetto. The most famous bass supposedly made by him is Rainier Zepperitz's old bass. I personally think the shape is related to the viola d'amore. Look at the corners as well as the f-holes of the Zepperitz bass and compare them to these viola d'amores:

http://www.violadamoresocietyofameri...s/VDA014-1.jpg
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/...-1/wn18-1m.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/HayleyKilroy/Rw...JPG?imgmax=512
http://www.williampetit.com/viole-d%...hulinsky/1.JPG

If you have Paul Brun's book on the history of the bass, page 28 has a drawing from 1650 of a similar looking bass instrument called a "Lyra dodecachordae."

[Gearhead43]

Wow, there are obvious elements of the female form in the design of these instruments.

In this pic, from the back it's pretty clear. Haha.

http://www.violadamoresocietyofameri...s/VDA014-1.jpg

I know that in times past, (Renaissance period) women with more voluptuous figures were considered to be more beautiful. (which I have always agreed with )

The art from these times certainly reflects this, and so must the instruments I suppose.

[Eric Swanson]

Here's some further discussion on the "Busetto" question/derivation, with Mr. Smith's usual breadth and depth:

http://smithbassforums.com/showthrea...0401#post10401

[Eric Rene Roy]

Thank for that Eric. That kind of post is Ken at his finest. No marketing or links to his basses for sale...just good clean info.

My .02