After anonymous French treble,
France, 18th c.
(Caldwell Collection, USA)
Treble after Barak Norman,
England, circa 1700
(Private collection , France)
Treble
English inspiration
Treble after Nicolas Bertrand,
Paris, 1712
(Private collection, Tours)
Treble after John Hoskin,
England, 1609
(National Music Museum,
Vermillion SD, USA)
After small treble by Henry Jaye,
England, early 17th
(Leipzig Museum)
Part of the Consort for the Paris Conservatory
Treble after Louis Guersan,
Paris, 18th century
(Musée de la Musique, France)
BACK
Pardessus and Treble Viols
The treble viol plays the high part in a consort as well as bass viol music an octave higher.
In late-17th century France, an even smaller viol appears – the pardessus, with 5 or 6 strings. Its range, comparable to that of the violin, enables it to play the ever-growing violin literature.
