viol Definition
- 1a bowed stringed instrument, especially one of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, typically having six strings and frets.
- 2any of a family of stringed musical instruments that preceded the violin family, consisting of a fretted fingerboard, a body rather like that of a guitar, and six or seven strings, played with a curved bow.
Using viol: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "viol" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The viol was a popular instrument in the Renaissance period.
Example
The viol is played with a curved bow.
Example
The viol is a predecessor to the modern violin.
viol Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with viol
Example
The bass viol is used in many orchestral pieces.
treble viol
the smallest member of the viol family, having six strings and played with a curved bow
Example
The treble viol is used in many chamber music pieces.
an ensemble of viols playing together, typically consisting of six instruments of different sizes
Example
The viol consort was a popular form of music in the Renaissance period.
Origins of viol
from Old French 'vïole', from Latin 'vitula', meaning 'stringed instrument'
Summary: viol in Brief
A 'viol' [vahyl] is a bowed stringed instrument with six strings and frets, popular in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It is a predecessor to the modern violin family and is played with a curved bow. Phrases like 'bass viol' and 'treble viol' denote the largest and smallest members of the viol family, respectively, while 'viol consort' refers to an ensemble of viols playing together.
