The Viola di Pardone or Baryton
after Simon Schodler, 1782
 by Ferdinand Wilhelm Jaura, 1934 
The correct name for this instrument is actually “Viola di Pardone”. The story has it, that a criminal awaiting his execution in an English dungeon invented this adorable instrument. The Lord, when he witnessed him playing upon it, was so thrilled that he instantly pardonned him, from whence the name. A baryton is basically a viola da gamba of six or seven strings, but provided with a large number (varies greatly between models) of thin, metal strings running behind the fingerboard that cannot be played with the bow, but resonate magically when the upper strings are bowed, much like the viola d’amore. But what’s more, these metal strings can be ably plucked by the thumb of the left hand while one bows the upper strings, thus providing one’s own accompaniment, a feat that many try but only few succeed! Prince Esterhazy was a passionate player of the viola di pardone, summoned the best soloists to his court and overwhelmed his composers with commissions for more works for it; thanks to this we now possess a rich repertoire for the instrument; Haydn alone composed at least 126 trios, a few duets, octets, etc. which are veritable gems. Christian Döbereiner ordered this baryton from the able Munich violin maker, Ferdinand Wilhelmm Jaura in 1934 and in 1936 the very first performance in modern times with a baryton took place in Munich – on our instrument, of course – Trio in D-Major by Haydn, played by Döbereiner himself. A critic from this concert appeared early in 1937 and can be seen on the Orpheon website. About: Christian Döbereiner See also: Orpheon Panorama To order a CD: http://festesdethalie.org/formulaireCD.htmlhttp://www.orpheon.org/OldSite/Seiten/Instruments/other/baryton.htmhttp://www.orpheon.org/Seiten/Instruments/vdg/vdgb_tielkevdg.htmhttp://web.mac.com/vazquezjose/iWeb/Orpheonhttp://festesdethalie.org/formulaireCD.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3
 
Click here for music, then start slide show: Music: Joseph Haydn: Adagio from Trio Nr. 114
Recorded at the concert in Vienna, May, 2007
Viola di pardone or
Baryton
At the exhibition in Froville
Head and pegbox: 6 playing and 11 sympathetic strings
At the exhibition in Tenerife
At the exhibition in Tenerife
Viola di pardone or
Baryton
 
Clever methhod of plucking the sympathetic strings behind the fingerboard
At the exhibition in Vienna
Christian Döbereiner (1874-1961)  ordered Jaura to make this Baryton
Verein für Alte Musik München, Döbereiner
Döbereiner conducting the Verein für Alte Musik München
Döbereiner conducting the Verein für Alte Musik München
The very first concert with our baryton: 1937
The very first concert with our baryton: 1937
Verein für Alte Musik München performed in 1936 for the first time a Trio by Haydn on this Baryton!
Program, 1923-12-27, Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain
Program, 1923-12-27  Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain
Döbereiner examining a Baryton in München
Our Baryton at the Fondation Calvet in Avignon
The Baryton at the Esterhazy Palace
The Baryton enjoying a vacation in Tenerife