Violoncello da Spalla — The Dies Irae Model
Made by violoncello da spalla maker Dmitry Badiarov, pioneer of the modern revival of the instrument.
A darker violoncello da spalla model with greater power
Built on more than twenty years of da spalla making experience, the Dies Irae model takes its musical orientation from the chant of the same name. Its proportions are developed to give the instrument depth, clarity, and power while remaining compact against the player’s body.
Dies Irae violoncello da spalla geometry study showing harmonic tension translated into structure.
A five-string violoncello da spalla shaped through harmonic tension
The Dies Irae model uses harmonic relationships as a source for proportion and form. Its geometry supports projection, volume, and a darker tonal character without making the instrument physically cumbersome.
Dies Irae violoncello da spalla harmonic study showing orientation around the bass register.
A five-string instrument built with purpose
The model is centred around a five-string setup and a practical relationship between body, bow, and register. It is designed to feel immediate in the hands while giving the player a grounded bass voice, clear articulation, flexibility across repertoire, and greater power than the Art of Fugue model.
A powerful da spalla voice for solo, chamber, and ensemble work
The Dies Irae Violoncello da Spalla is agile enough for rapid passagework, grounded enough to sustain harmonic depth, and powerful enough for demanding solo lines with ensemble. Held against the body, it is designed to feel direct, familiar, and physically natural.
The 2024 Dies Irae violoncello da spalla, recorded in an eighteenth-century church.
“How can a new instrument be predictable before it is finished?”
A commission is not guesswork. Before measurements are fixed, Badiarov studies the musician’s repertoire, physical needs, intended sound, setup, pitch, and practical performance context.
This is the role of his harmony-first method: musical relationships are translated into proportion, geometry, response, and voice, so the instrument is shaped with clear musical and physical purpose.
The method has informed repeated commissions for professional musicians including Sigiswald Kuijken, Sergey Malov, and Ryo Terakado.
Witnesses
“Now I no longer want to play Bach on my viola. I am so smitten by my Spalla.”
Dr. Madelein Darmiento
Professor of Strings, Violin & Viola
“Film, tv music scene will get hip to this soon and baroque instruments such as the violoncello da spalla will come back in a very big way!”
Bryan Senti
Award-winning composer, film-maker, multi-instrumentalist, producer
“It just feels right—it feels amazing. Playing this violoncello da spalla lets me create music I truly love and has made playing music so much better in my life.”
Artie Dibble
Violist, Juilliard, NYC
Commissioning a Violoncello da Spalla — The Dies Irae Model
Each Dies Irae Violoncello da Spalla is made to commission by Dmitry Badiarov for a specific musician, repertoire, setup, pitch, and physical relationship with the instrument.
Workshop and bespoke versions are available. Investment depends on the model, materials, setup, and artistic requirements.
Commissioning begins with a private conversation.
Made individually for professional use.