Octobass1

A rare, newly built 4-metre high octobass was premiered on the first day of the Only Connect festival in Oslo during June 2015. The instrument was played by Guro Moe, a bassist and composer, and accompanied by the 11-piece chamber orchestra Touchables.

The octobass was invented in France in the 1850s. The instrument has three strings, is tuned two octaves below a cello and is capable of playing notes which are too low for the human ear to detect.

Watch three musicians performing the world's largest playable violin.

Watch Vivaldi performed on the world’s smallest playable violin.

Subscribe to The Strad or download our digital edition as part of a 30-day free trial. To purchase single issues click here.

Topics