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Medieval Vielle

This is my replica of a medieval vielle, an ancestor of the modern violin. It was played by troubadours from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

22 comments

Dec 19, 2011. 3:30 PMbwells2 says:

Could you make a vielle out of a cigar box?

Dec 20, 2011. 9:10 AM

spookylean (author) says:

I think that would be just the same as a cigar box violin... except for the tied frets?

Apr 7, 2012. 7:53 AMzzoe says:

Beautiful.

Does it have a sound-post? Is that low string meant for plucking? I've heard that that is sometimes done. How did you choose to tune the strings?

Found your work while searching for something quite unrelated - i must say i'm impressed. Good work.

N.B. Perhaps one could make a cigar box vielle, along the lines of the square type (Mary Rose) . I must say that as a junk instrument maker, and a musician with an interest in Medieval music, i love the idea of a cigar-box vielle.

Apr 7, 2012. 6:09 PM

spookylean (author) says:

It does have a sound post. And sometimes I plucked it, sometimes I bowed it. The bridge is much flatter than a violin bridge which means it plays chords well but melodies not so well. I tuned it to GDAE but it also worked in AEAE. I think. It's been a while. thanks!

Apr 8, 2012. 6:11 PMzzoe says:

Cool. You're welcome. I've played similar things, and you might try letting the bulk of the strings function as drones and play more 'linear' style melodies on the high string (s). easier than the more complex fingerings, in some ways, but the fingers have to be pretty nimble on the neck!
Cheers, and thanks again!

Jan 4, 2012. 5:32 PMbwells2 says:

Does it have a flat bridge or a violin styled bridge on your masterpiece?

Jan 4, 2012. 5:26 PMbwells2 says:

at $8 for a baritone ukulele set of nylguts at amazon, it might be a steal compare to natural gut.

Jan 4, 2012. 5:24 PMbwells2 says:

What about nylgut from Aquila as strings? It also comes in a natural color, It is made for ukuleles, banjos, guitars.

Dec 20, 2011. 1:22 PMbwells2 says:

Fretted bowed instruments sound awesome!

Dec 8, 2011. 1:15 PMbwells2 says:

You have created a masterpiece of a musical genious.

Nov 19, 2011. 7:56 AMbwells2 says:

What strings do you have on it?