Viola d’Amore
The viola d’amore has seven gut strings and seven metal strings. The melody is bowed on the gut strings (the melody strings). While the metal strings are not bowed, these auxiliary strings (the sympathetic strings) vibrate in sympathy when the melody strings are played, enhancing the overall sound. Famous 18th-century composers such as Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach wrote music specifically for the viola d’amore.