Is the vielle still used?
The French term vielle is the most common today for this important bowed-string instrument.
What was the vielle used for?
From the 12th century on, the vielle was associated in literature with both amateur and professional players (along with the citole and harp), as an instrument to play dance music; to accompany others’ secular songs; to self-accompany secular singing; and, perhaps surprisingly, as an accompaniment to religious song.
What kind of instrument is a vielle?
bowed stringed instrument
The vielle /viˈɛl/ is a European bowed stringed instrument used in the medieval period, similar to a modern violin 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.
How is the vielle played?
In terms of playing the vielle it is an universal assumption that it is only played in first position (the left hand doesn’t have to shift up the fingerboard). The bourdon can be played with the bow or plucked with the left-hand thumb.
When was the vielle invented?
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.
What was the vielle made of?
The resonator of this vielle is a nearly oval-shape with a slight waist, its flat back and curved sides made of thinly-shaven maple. Spruce is used for the flat soundboard, into which are cut two elongated soundholes. The neck and pegblock are made from a single piece of hardwood (possibly rosewood).
Is the vielle Haute or bas?
Bas instruments had low volume while haut instruments were those with high volume. The Medieval vielle instrument was included in the bas instruments which were also known as soft instruments and were suitable for indoor performances.
What is a vielle made of?
Who made the first vielle?
The first violins inspired from the medieval vielle instrument were developed between 1495 and 1505 in Italy.