Gambe von Emmo Koch – StW 57

Emmo Koch war ein autodidaktisch gebildeter Instrumentenbauer aus Bremen, der sich in den 1950er und 60er Jahren der Wiederbelebung verschollener Klänge verschrieben hatte. Er schuf Fideln, Rebecs, Radleiern, Gamben und Schoßharfen, inspiriert durch historische Vorbilder. In den späten 1960er Jahren gab Koch Lehrgänge im Instrumentenbau. Der Flötenbauer Arthur F. Young (1969) berichtet über einen solchen in Schwäbisch Hall: "Most fascinating of all was the reason for the seminar or Lehrgang. These young people came from all over Germany and Europe to make their own instruments and to play together. The instrument to be made was a simplified version of the viola da gamba, called the Fidel (pronounced fee/del). The construction was directed by Emmo Koch, instrument maker from Lauenbrueck, the stringed instrument ersemble instruction by Guenter Patzig-Wandersleb of Wiesbaden and the wind ensemble by me. In all there were forty-seven participants, most of whom had never made an instrument before and many had never played a stringed instrument. In ten strenuous days of work and play, we had completed over thirty instruments, ranging in size from Pardessus to Bass, had many hours of instruction and practice, and on the Thursday before Easter pave a public concert with the stringed instruments plus recorders, krummhoms, sackbuts and chorus. The sound of these "home-made" instruments is unbelievable. It is a bit brighter than that of the gamba but equally pleasing. In all, it was a most enjoyable and exciting experience. If only there could be as much enthusiasm among the youth of the States!..."