Violas de Arame -- wire string Folk "Guitars" from Portugal and the Azores Islands -- FOR SALE
Notice: On April 10, 2011 someone in the San Francisco Bay area e-mailed me about a Viola da Terra. I lost the email!!! Please contact me again....
The word arame literally means "wire" in Portuguese, in this context it means metal strings. The word viola in Portuguese is used to refer to instruments which English and Spanish speakers would think of as "guitars", that is, fretted instruments with a flat back (as opposed to the bowl-shaped backs of the lute family), a long neck, and a waisted body (i.e, one which is roughly shaped like the number "8"). The term viola is usually used for the various folkloric instruments which are strung-up in multi-string courses, while the word violão (the augmentative form of viola) is often used for guitars which are strung-up with single-string courses such as the modern classical guitar.
There are a number of these interesting looking and sounding violas. Distinctive designs and tunings are associated with certain regions of continental Portugal, the Azores and Madeira Island. Portuguese immigrants in the US and Canada, often of Azorean descent, make and play these instruments. Over the last century there have been makers of these types of instruments in North America in New England, California, Quebec, Ontario and Brtish Columbia.
With enough time, I can import other types of violas and cavaquinhos from Portugal with my Portuguese guitarras which are made in northern Portugal.
At present I have the following instruments for sale.
10-string Viola de Braga (also called Viola Braguesa) For Sale-- in stock as of April 11, 2011
10-string Viola de Braga (also called Viola Braguesa). this instruemnt was made in nothern portugal
Price: $995 with custom hard shell case
Tuning is in 5-courses: cC, gG, aA, dd, gg (5th to 1st). This is like the Coimbra-style Portuguese guitarra tuning omitting the highest course.
This viola is typical of northwestern Portugal between the Douro and Minho Rivers.
Antique Viola da Terra. Sold as is for $400, no case.
I am not sure where this instrument was made. I acquired it in Central California. I do not know if it was made by a Portuguese immigrant in North America, or whether it was made in the Azores, Madeira or Continental Portugal. It needs new tuning pegs, a nut at the head, and strings. The body is sound. It could use a coat of shellac or French Polished finish. It has some nice inlay on the face and a nice bridge. If you are interetsed in this instrument we should speak about your intentions.
15-string Viola da Terceira-with wooden tuning pegs-- In stock, this is an instrument made in Portugal in the 1990s.
Price: $995 with hardshell case. The nut on this instrument is a bit narrow for my taste. It has 15 strings but might work very well as a 12 string Viola da Terceira. I had this instrument made with wooden pegs which look great and they work well but for me they are too much work. If you are interetsed we should have a talk about how you intend to use this instrument.
Tuning is in 6 courses: eeE, aaA, ddD, gG, bb, ee (6th to 1st)
The design of this viola is typical of the Azorean Island of Terceira, it was made in northern Portugal.
Please inquire by email about particulars:
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