The pardessus de viole is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the viol family of instruments with a range similar to that of the violin.
what
the quinton de viole, too!
Like the larger 6 and 7 string bass viols, the pardessus is a solo instrument, but unlike those larger instruments it does not play a role in continuo bands or viol consorts.
Pardessus were made and played primarily in French speaking countries from approximately 1680 until the French Revolution.
