bussist

A bussist is a person who plays the bass viol, also known as the viola da gamba. This string instrument was popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, typically having six or seven strings and frets. The bass viol is played upright, resting on the floor or on a peg, and is bowed rather than plucked. Players of the bass viol were common in consorts, ensembles that played music written specifically for groups of viols, and also as soloists. The term "bussist" specifically refers to the player of the bass viol, distinguishing them from players of other members of the viol family, such as the treble viol or tenor viol. The repertoire for the bass viol includes solo works, chamber music, and orchestral parts, and it was often used to provide a bass line in ensembles. While the viol family declined in popularity with the rise of the violin family in the late Baroque, it has experienced a revival in early music performance.