Baryton and German theorbo - 2 of the rarest instruments in the world - play Mozart duo KV292

#baryton #theorbo #rareinstruments #mozart #kv292 The baryton and German theorbo are both very rare instruments, with only a few original instruments and modern copies in the world. The baryton is a development of the bass viol (viola da gamba) with the same 6 fingerboard strings and frets, and it uses the same basic tuning. The baryton has an additional set of wire strings which can be plucked by the left thumb which give the instrument its unique sound. The back strings are tuned in a scale and as well as being plucked they also resonate in sympathy with the bowed notes, enriching the tone. Sympathetic strings are common in Indian instruments like the sitar and sarangi, and it is possible that is where the idea came from. This particular baryton has 10 back strings, which gives a number of possibilities: playing bowed notes alone, plucked notes alone or bowed and plucked at the same time which is a unique and difficult technique. The baryton originated in the 17th century, but it’s golden age was