Vielle
The vielle was ubiquitous in the Middle Ages. In the opinion of Johannes de Grocheio, they were capable of playing “every musical form.” Existing in an abundance of designs, vielles could play monophonic or polyphonic music, in instrumental consorts or accompanying voices. I offer several models of vielle.
Battle Abbey Vielle
This vielle was designed with the modern violinist in mind. It is roughly the same size as a violin with the same number of strings, yet it has a distinctly medieval construction and sound. The four strings can be retuned to A,D,a,d or G,D,g,d, and played convincingly to accompany monophonic song or polyphonic music.
- One piece body of maple, pear, or cherry
- Arched soundboard of high quality spruce
- Gut strings, tuned A,D,a,d or G,D,g,d
- String length 32.5 cm
Sources
Battle Abbey, English 14th century, BL Cotton Domitian A.II f. 8
Battle Abbey, English 14th century, BL Cotton Domitian A.II f. 8 (detail)
DeLisle Psalter Vielle
This vielle was intended to have a robust design that can accommodate many styles: leg or arm playing, flat or arched bridge, five strings on the fingerboard or four with a lateral drone string. Like the British Museum Citole, it has a keel-shaped back and a bent top.
- One piece body of maple, pear, or cherry
- Bent spruce soundboard
- Gut strings, tuned something like C,G,C,g,c
- Large model string length 42-44 cm
- Small model string length 39-40 cm
Sources
De Lisle Psalter, English, 1330s
English Square Fydell
I developed this fiddle with distinctive square sides when I worked with Dan Larson. It has three strings, a lightweight, constructed body, and a bent soundboard. Someday I would be interested in returning to this model as a monoxyle, or carved body, instrument.
- Constructed body of maple or cherry.
- Bent spruce soundboard
- Gut strings tuned in fifths
- Large model string length 40 cm, tuned G, d, a
- Small model string length 37 cm, tuned C, g, d’
Sources
Gloucester Cathedral, c. 1280
Beverly Minster
Alternun Bench end, 1510-1530
Mary Rose fiddles, 1545
