Laura Vaughan | Baryton,
Heidi von Bernewitz | viola,
Thomas Marlin | cello

The little-known baryton is a Classical instrument similar in size to a cello, with 6 gut bowed strings plus a course of 10 metal strings which resonate sympathetically and are also plucked like a harp. This magnificent instrument reached its zenith at the court of Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy in Vienna during the time of composer Joseph Haydn, and there exists a significant repertoire of chamber music for baryton which is very rarely performed. Laura Vaughan is one of the foremost performers on the viola da Gamba in Australia and her Baryton is the first in Australia, made by Henner Harders, it is a copy of one by Daniel Agnatius Stadlmann, Vienna, 1732.