-
The viola family needed a bass instrument and the bass violin or 'basso de viola da braccio' was created in the 16th century, likely first played resting on the shoulder or arm, like a violin. Known to be used in Orfeo by Monteverdi -
Creator of the first cello as we know it -
Earliest known cello with body of 75.5 cm created for king Charles IX of France -
Traditional gut strings were wound with wire to create a finer bass sound. This tradition started in Bologna -
In the mid 19th century the endpin became a standard addition to the cello after it's invention by Belgian cellist Servais (1807-1866). According to rumour he became too fat to support the cello with his legs and needed a support for the instrument.