The term 'viola' in southern Italy during the late 17th century referred to what was known as the basse de violon in France, bass Geige in Germany, and bass violin in England.
Composition History
Rocco Greco's extant compositions include 28 sinfonie à due viole and eleven instrumental pieces, preserved in a single manuscript volume dated 1699.
Interpretation
The performers on this recording use modern copies of 17th-century bass violins, tuned to A=415, with fretless fingerboards and bows designed for an underhand grip.
Historical Context
Rocco Greco is considered the founder of the great Neapolitan cello tradition, which later developed with virtuosi like Francesco Alborea, Francesco Paolo Supriani, Salvatore Lanzetti, and Andrea Caporale.
Compositional Technique
The instrument intended for Rocco Greco's works was likely strung and tuned like a bass violin (G-C-F-B♭), one tone below the cello, and probably not fitted with frets.
Composer Biography
Rocco Greco, a Neapolitan composer and instrumentalist at the Cappella Vicereale, was the brother of the better-known Gaetano Greco.
Recording & Production
In some sinfonias, the second viola part is replaced by a harpsichord, and in the Gregorian antiphon diminutions, the solo bass is accompanied by a positive organ.
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