Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
Aleteia logo
Art & Culture
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Leonardo Da Vinci designed this invention, but it was never built. Until now.

slawomir_zubrzycki__viola_organista

By Ludek (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Esparza - published on 09/22/16

A Polish virtuoso pianist-luthier-composer built the "viola organista" following Leonardo's blueprints

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

If you could throw a harpsichord, a viola da gamba and an organ into a blender, the result would be the “viola organista”: the musical instrument that Da Vinci had only designed, but never managed to build.

After almost four years of work (specifically, from 2009 to 2012), the Polish luthier, pianist, harpsichordist and composer Slawomir Zubrzycki built the first (and apparently the only one, so far) of these instruments, as reported by Classic FM.

The primary difference between the viola organista and a harpsichord is the way the strings are supposed to emit sounds: in the case of the harpsichord, the strings are hit — one might even say “plucked” — with a small metal spike. The delicacy of the sound of the viola organista is due to the fact that the strings are instead in contact with small wheels covered in horsehair (or felt), somehow mimicking the friction of a conventional violin bow. The sound it makes is, as you can appreciate in the video, quite unique.

Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.