ORIGIN OF THE DOUBLE BASS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

ORIGIN OF THE DOUBLE BASS

SHROUDED IN MYSTERY. The actual origin of the violin Is shrouded in the mists of history, but patient research has resulted in fastening upon Gasparo da, Salo the parenthood of the instrument in its present form. The origin of the double bass is lost in a dense fog, despite the efforts of certain historians to attribute its invention also to da Salo. Very probably it "vras the logical development , , of and the successor to the violone, the low bass instrument of the viol family. Even the uses to which the double bass was put in those early days is a matter of conjecture, although it doubtless served to double the notes of the 'cello much as it does to-day. Indeed, the relative unimportance of the double bass was such that Luthiers did not trouble to put their names inside. It is even doubtful if certain of the foremost Luthiers made double basses. A legend has persisted that Stradivarius made a few, but the utmost efforts of experts and collectors have never been able to establish the truth of the story. If Stradivarhis did make double basses he never put his name .inside, and the instruments, if they ever actually existed, have long since disappeared. As a matter of fact, a genuine double, bass from the hands of a master Luthier is a rarity. Those which can be identified have, in many cases, been cut down or otherwise altered to meet the demands of present day music.