American bass viol
Encyclopedia
The American bass viol, also called a church bass or Yankee bass viol, is a type of bowed string instrument which enjoyed popularity in early 19th century New England
for use in aiding Puritan
congregational singers. In its time of common use, the instrument was referred to as a bass viol, despite the fact that it more closely resembles a violoncello than a European bass viol. The size and form of these instruments varies; many are uniquely proportioned folk instruments.
The earliest dated example of a church bass is from the maker Benjamin Crehore, made in Massachusetts in 1788. A particularly notable double bass luthier
, Abraham Prescott
, is known to have made 500 to 600 church basses, the earliest example dating from 1809. With the rising popularity of the reed organ
in the 1840s, church basses fell into disuse.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
for use in aiding Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
congregational singers. In its time of common use, the instrument was referred to as a bass viol, despite the fact that it more closely resembles a violoncello than a European bass viol. The size and form of these instruments varies; many are uniquely proportioned folk instruments.
The earliest dated example of a church bass is from the maker Benjamin Crehore, made in Massachusetts in 1788. A particularly notable double bass luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
, Abraham Prescott
Abraham Prescott
Abraham Prescott was a noted luthier, particularly of the double bass, who worked in Deerfield and Concord, New Hampshire during the 19th century. Prescott built his first double bass in 1819, building 207 over the course of his career....
, is known to have made 500 to 600 church basses, the earliest example dating from 1809. With the rising popularity of the reed organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
in the 1840s, church basses fell into disuse.