 Modern reconstruction of avielle depicted in a painting byHans Memling | |
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Related instruments | |
Bowed Plucked | |
Thevielle/viˈɛl/ is a European bowedstringed instrument used in themedieval period, similar to a modernviolin but with a somewhat longer and deeper body, three to five gut strings, and a leaf-shaped pegbox with frontal tuning pegs, sometimes with a figure-8 shaped body.[citation needed] Whatever external form they had, the box-soundchest consisted ofback and belly joined by ribs, which experience has shown to be the construction for bowed instruments. The most common shape given to the earliest vielles in France was an oval, which with its modifications remained in favour until the Italianlira da braccio asserted itself as the better type, leading to theviolin.[1]
The instrument was also known as afidel or aviuola, although the French name for the instrument,Vièle, is generally used; the word comes from the same root asfiddle. It was one of the most popular instruments of the medieval period, and was used bytroubadours andjongleurs from the 13th through the 15th centuries. Thevielle possibly derived from thelira, aByzantine bowed instrument closely related to therebab, an Arab bowed instrument.[2] There are many medieval illustrations of different types of vielles in manuscripts,[3] sculptures and paintings.
Starting in the middle or end of the 15th century, the wordvielle was used to refer to thehurdy-gurdy, as a shortened form of its name:vielle à roue ("vielle with a wheel").[4]
Several modern groups of musicians have formed into bands to playearly music (pre-Baroque), and they sometimes include vielles, or modern reproductions, in their ensembles, together with other instruments such asrebecs andsaz.
%2c_fol._5r%2c_detail.jpg)
_-_Hours_of_Charles_the_Noble%2c_King_of_Navarre_(1361-1425)%2c_fol._325r%2c_Text_-_1964.40.325.a_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art_cropped.jpg)
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Schlesinger, Kathleen (1911). "Vielle". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 50..jpg) | This article relating to instruments of theviolin family is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
