viella

Yet scholars are confident in saying that the vielle was widely used in all strata of Medieval society for religious events, dance accompaniment, singing accompaniment (such as for epic songs), and in combination with other instruments of the time.

The low, flat vielle bridge would facilitate playing all the strings as one sonic block, not possible on the curved violin bridge, and would make it much fuller-sounding but quieter than the violin.

It was one of the most popular instruments of the medieval period, and was used by troubadours and jongleurs from the 13th through the 15th centuries. The vielle possibly derived from the lira, a Byzantine bowed instrument closely related to the rebab, an Arab bowed instrument.

Basically, the vielle appears in pictures to have been about the size of a modern viola, with a slightly rounded rectangular body and four or five strings. From its appearance around the l0th century until about l400, it was probably constructed so that the lower strings could function as drones.

The medieval fiddle, also commonly known as the vielle, is an incredibly versatile and expressive instrument.

The vielle or medieval fiddle was the most popular instrument in its heyday for secular song accompaniment. It first appeared in western Europe in the 11th century and continued to be played until the middle of the 16th century, flourishing in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Known in French as the vielle à roue (the vielle with the wheel), the hurdy-gurdy was a string instrument that was set up primarily for the purpose of making drones. A rosined wooden wheel, turned by a crank, produced the sound by setting a number of strings in continuous droning vibration.

Noun. vielle à roue f (plural vielles à roue) Vielle à roue 1850. hurdy-gurdy (stringed instrument)

“VIELLE, viole, vièle, a French term, derived from Lat. fidicula, embracing two distinct types of instruments: (1) from the 12th to the beginning of the 15th century bowed instruments having a box-soundchest with ribs, (2) from the middle or end of the 15th century, the hurdy-gurdy (q.v.).

Popular in Western Europe starting in the 14th Century, the vielle, or Renaissance fiddle, evolved from the rebec and rebab in France. With the addition of a fingerboard, a leaf-shaped peg box and five gut strings, it started to resemble the modern violin.

It is pitched in a range between the violin and the cello. In many ways, it is similar to the violin. Due to its larger size, it has a warmer sound and plays in a lower range. The mellow sound of the viola helps to balance the brighter tone of the violin.

The vielle, or medieval fiddle, was one of the most popular instruments during the medieval period. This is clear from the huge amounts of iconography that exists from the time, including a wealth of paintings and frescos. Carving of an angel playing a vielle in Lincoln cathedral.