Rare
viola da gamba
by Rombouts
purchased
The Musical Instrument Fund is helping to preserve important Dutch cultural heritage through the acquisition of a rare viola da gamba from 1708, built by Pieter Rombouts in Amsterdam. The viola da gamba has been in the hands of collectors for decades, but thanks to the fund’s acquisition, it can once again be played and heard in public.
Back on home soil
This gamba is one of the nine violas da gamba built by Rombouts, and also the only one that can still be played. The other instruments are in private collections or museums. This authentic Rombouts viola da gamba is extremely rare and offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the significance of traditional Dutch instrument making. Now it’s back on Dutch soil!
The gamba is in good condition and still retains much of its original varnish. The instrument has been well maintained and is in perfect playing condition. Given the cultural and historical significance of this gamba, it must be handled with care. However, it is also important that musicians perform on the gamba in front of an audience. The gamba will soon be made available for projects.
Pieter Rombouts (1667–1740)
In addition to violins, violas, and cellos, Rombouts also made violas da gamba. Only nine gambas by Rombouts are known to exist worldwide, eight of which are in private collections or museums. Rombouts was an immensely successful violin maker during the golden age of Old Dutch violin making. A remarkable detail is that Pieter Rombouts and Gijsbert Verbeek were stepbrothers and both apprenticed to Hendrik Jacobs, who can rightly be called the most important violin maker in Dutch history.
For a long time, the quality and rich history of early Dutch violin making have been underappreciated. Although more and more money is being spent on early Dutch stringed instruments, the level of craftsmanship achieved in the Netherlands between 1650 and 1720 is still not recognized within the country itself. By including early Dutch instruments in its collection, the Musical Instrument Fund helps to preserve this cultural heritage.
Unveiled with fanfare
On June 15, 2023, the gamba was unveiled in a festive ceremony at our office. For the occasion, gamba player Mieneke van der Velden performed on the newly acquired instrument. The press was invited to attend. On NPO Radio 1 (25') and NPO Klassiek featured the Rombouts viola da gamba in interviews with Frits Schutte, head of the collection. In De Telegraaf and on Classic.nl there was a news article.
The gamba now has a custom-made case and is ready to be loaned to musicians on a project basis (under strict conditions).
to the instrument