{{Short description|Musical instrument}} {{Infobox instrument | name = Lirone | names = Lira da gamba; lyrone; lyra da gamba | image = Lira da gamba.JPG | classification = Bowed string instrument | range = | related = Lira da braccio }}
The '''lirone''' (or '''lira da gamba''') is the bass member of the ''lira'' family of instruments that was popular in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It is a bowed string instrument with between 9 and 16 gut strings and a fretted neck. When played, it is held between the legs in the manner of a cello or viol (viola da gamba).
It was used in italian operas and oratoriums to accompany the human voice, especially the gods. Because the lira da gambe can not play the bass, there must be a bass instrument, theorbo, harpsichord or viola da gamba.
==Description== The ''Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' describes the lirone as essentially a larger version of the ''lira da braccio'', which has a similar wide fingerboard, flat bridge, and leaf-shaped pegbox with frontal pegs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.grovemusic.com/ |title=''Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', ed. L. Macy (accessed 11 November 2006) |access-date=2006-11-11 |archive-date=2008-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516041031/http://www.grovemusic.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its flat bridge allows for the playing of chords of between three and five notes.
==History== [[File:Pier Francesco Mola Lira da gamba.jpg|thumb|Lirone player painted by Pier Francesco Mola]] The ''lirone'' was primarily used in Italy<ref>{{cite book|last=Pio Stefano|title=Viol and Lute Makers of Venice|year=2012|publisher=Venice research|location=Venezia, Italy|isbn=9788890725203|pages=441|url=http://www.veniceresearch.com|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313180801/http://veniceresearch.com/|archive-date=2018-03-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> during the late 16th and early 17th centuries (and particularly in the time of Claudio Monteverdi) to provide continuo, or harmony for the accompaniment of vocal music. It was frequently used in Catholic churches, particularly by Jesuits.<ref name="CC">{{cite web |url=http://catacoustic.com/instruments.html |title=Baroque Musical Instruments |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Catacoustic Consort |access-date=14 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219182825/http://www.catacoustic.com/instruments.html |archive-date=19 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Performers== Despite the resurgence in Baroque instrument performance during the 20th century, only a handful of musicians play the ''lirone''. Notable performers on the instrument include Erin Headley of England; Imke David, Claas Harders and Hille Perl of Germany; Annalisa Pappano of the United States; Laura Vaughan of Australia, and Paulina van Laarhoven of the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians|author=Erin Headley|entry=Lirone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://claasharders.de/|title=claas harders – viola da gamba – lirone|website=Claasharders.de|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lauravaughan.com/|title=Laura Vaughan | Viols and Lirone|website=Lauravaughan.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Facebook|laviolettapaulinavanlaarhoven|Paulina van Laarhoven}}</ref>
==See also== *Violone, a contrabass instrument of the viol family
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *Imke David, "Die sechzehn Saiten der italienischen Lira da gamba", orfeo Verlag, 1999, {{ISBN|3-9806730-0-6}} *John Weretka. [https://archive.today/20121128032946/http://dtl.unimelb.edu.au/R/M6MG8BYQJ6TNE9F7H5E2EAH1MQKF3P153SAL742QCX1S3Y4CDY-00840?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=67292&pds_handle=GUEST "Homer the lironist: P. F. Mola, Art and Music in the Baroque"]
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070915081156/http://eprints.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/archive/00003283/01/Weretka001.pdf Article] *[http://catacoustic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.jpg Photo of Annalisa Pappano with a 14-string lirone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710011622/http://catacoustic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.jpg |date=2016-07-10 }} *[http://www.jsbchorales.net/illus/lirone.jpg Photograph of a lirone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424185035/http://www.jsbchorales.net/illus/lirone.jpg |date=2012-04-24 }} *[http://www.violworks.com Henner Harders – Lirone maker] *[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B9O92A Lirone audio] (track 3 features the instrument accompanied by a plucked string instrument; tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 10 feature the lirone in an accompanying role) *[https://www.violworks.com/lirone Lirone audio]
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Category:Bowed string instruments Category:Early musical instruments