Viola Da Gamba

[Khandro]

Don't just sit there, why not learn how to play one?

[pastafreak]

Such a beautiful and mournful sound.

[barry1010]

If I were to learn to play a new instrument it would be the theramin

[Khandro]

I had to look that up barry, doesn't seem to have the charisma of the viola da gamba! :0)
I think this lady is smashing.

[barry1010]

The theme tune to Midsummer Murders is played on a theramin, it fascinates me

[aelmpvw]

seven strings? i never managed to master the four on a violin . . .

[jno]

Barry, I remember Mark Kermode explaining that the theremin was invented by a Russian who wanted a proper communist instrument that could be equally easy for everyone to play.

Unfortunately it actually turned to be equally difficult for everyone - though he played it okay himself.

[Khandro]

jno; That sounds just like good communist ideology - dumb down & dilute everything so that everyone is 'equal'.

[jno]

it wasn't intended to dumb down, Khandro, it just didn't work as well as planned (this can happen to capitalist enterprises too, I believe).

But aside from the difficulty of learning to use it, it does produce an attractive sound.