They range in size from high treble, alto, small tenor, tenor, bass down to the contra-bass (the "''violone''") Unlike the violin family – indeed most instrumental “families” the leading viol is a low one. The bass-viol or “''viola da gamba''", literally “''leg-viol''”, has had a distinguished career as soloist and is the only member to be honoured by solo works by as high a luminary as J.S. [[Bach]]. In England a [[consort]] of viols was used either as an instrumental ensemble on its own or as accompaniment in a vocal work. The viola da gamba has enjoyed a resurgence in modern times, not least because of the scholarship and virtuosity of the [[Catalonia]]n viol player, Jordi Savall. | They range in size from high treble, alto, small tenor, tenor, bass down to the contra-bass (the "''violone''") Unlike the violin family – indeed most instrumental “families” the leading viol is a low one. The bass-viol or “''viola da gamba''", literally “''leg-viol''”, has had a distinguished career as soloist and is the only member to be honoured by solo works by as high a luminary as J.S. [[Bach]]. In England a [[consort]] of viols was used either as an instrumental ensemble on its own or as accompaniment in a vocal work. The viola da gamba has enjoyed a resurgence in modern times, not least because of the scholarship and virtuosity of the [[Catalonia]]n viol player, Jordi Savall. |