
theorbo
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The theorbo is a plucked string instrument of the lute family, with an extended neck that houses the second pegbox. Like a lute, a theorbo has a curved-back sound box with a flat top, typically with one or three sound holes decorated with rosettes. As with the lute, the player plucks or strums the strings with the right hand while "fretting" (pressing down) the strings with the left hand.
Key facts
- Instrument.name
- Theorbo
- Instrument.names
- chitarrone, theorbo lute; fr: téorbe, théorbe, tuorbe; de: Theorbe; it: tiorba, tuorba
- Instrument.image
- Theorbo-ref-white.jpg
- Instrument.classification
- Necked bowl lutes String instruments
- Instrument.related
- Angélique Archlute Chitarra Italiana Bouzouki Lute Oud Pandura Theorbo Tambouras Tiorbino Torban
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Barocktheorbe Martin Hoffmann ed.JPG
Show 2 more facts
- Commons category
- Theorbos
- Hornbostel-Sachs classification
- 321.321-5
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Article
16 sectionsContents
- Origin and development
- Tuning and strings
- Regional differences
- Italy
- England
- France
- Germany
- Ukraine, Poland and Russia
- Technique
- Solo repertoire
- Continuo
- Composers
- Contemporary players
- References
- Sources
- External links
The theorbo is a plucked string instrument of the lute family, with an extended neck that houses the second pegbox. Like a lute, a theorbo has a curved-back sound box with a flat top, typically with one or three sound holes decorated with rosettes. As with the lute, the player plucks or strums the strings with the right hand while "fretting" (pressing down) the strings with the left hand.
The theorbo is related to the liuto attiorbato, the French '', the archlute, the German baroque lute, and the angélique (or angelica''). A theorbo differs from a regular lute in its re-entrant tuning in which the first two strings are tuned an octave lower. The theorbo was used during the Baroque music era (1600–1750) to play basso continuo accompaniment parts (as part of the basso continuo group, which often included harpsichord, pipe organ and bass instruments), and also as a solo instrument. It has a range similar to that of cello.