viola d'amore

American  

[vee-oh-luh dah-mawr-ey, -mohr-ey, -duh-] / viˈoʊ lə dɑˈmɔr eɪ, -ˈmoʊr eɪ, -də- /

noun

plural

viola d'amores

1. a treble viol with numerous sympathetic strings and several gut strings, producing a resonant sound.

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viola d'amore British  

/ vɪˈəʊlə dæˈmɔːrɪ /

noun

1. an instrument of the viol family having no frets, seven strings, and a set of sympathetic strings. It was held under the chin when played

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Etymology

Origin of viola d'amore

1690–1700; < Italian: literally, viol of love

Example Sentences

Edendale Up Close Concerts Ergo Musica plays works for viola d’amore, soprano and baroque cello.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2019

Last month, with her sweet-sounding viola d'amore in tow, she led the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra downtown in an all-Baroque program.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2017

Three of them were for viola d’amore, a member of the viol family that was largely superseded in the classical period by the violin and its relatives.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2014

The Ensemble Per Questa Bella Mano, as they called themselves, played 18th-century pieces on period instruments, including a viola d’amore and Viennese bass.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2013

And besides being a master of his own instrument he plays the viola d'amore, that sweet-toned survival, with sympathetic strings, of the 17th century viol family, and the Hungarian czimbalom.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman