There are so many variations of instruments that all resemble the violin that it is hard to know which is which and where they came from in the first place. One of the most misunderstood of these early stringed instruments played with a bow is the vielle. The vielle was most popular in Medieval times and it is indeed similar to a modern violin but it has a much longer body and deeper tonal qualities. It has four strings, made of catgut, rather than five, and the peg box is leaf-shaped with frontal tuning pegs. More than a violin, the vielle most resembles what we now know as the fiddle – though many people mistake a fiddle for a violin in the first place thinking that both names apply to the same instrument. The vielle’s roots date back to earlier versions of this instrument called the rebab, which was introduced to Medieval Europe from the Middle East following the Moor’s conquest of Spain. Knowing what a vielle is and finding one for sale are two completely different things but here are a few places to shop for one just in case you’re thinking of playing the part of a troubadours or jongleur at the next Renaissance fair in your town.
One of the best places to shop for classic Medieval instruments of every kind is Sound World Instruments. One look at their wide array of even the most obscure musical instruments and you’ll understand why we say that. Here are a couple of examples of early era vielle’s from the Middle East:
Afghani Rebab – available for $399.20 – Although technically not a vielle, this rebab is indeed a Middle Eastern version of the same instrument. It features a goatskin soundboard, a movable bridge, and 3 fixed corded frets. The neck and upper body are hollow and covered with a thin piece of wood.
Afghani Rebab Delux – available for $431.20 – This beautiful instrument is decorated with inlay and carvings. It is approximately 36-38 inches long with a goatskin soundboard, 5 gut strings, a movable bridge, and 3 fixed corded frets.
You’re always bound to find what you’re looking for at Early Music Instruments.com, especially if you happen to be in search of rare Medieval musically instruments…..who isn’t right? Here are a couple of the vielles that they are featuring for sale:
Viella Medievale – available for $957 – This vielle is based on a sculpture on the west portal of the Strasbourg cathedral. It is designed to be similar in size and identical in string length and tuning to the modern violin. It can be played easily tucked under the chin like the modern violin, or held either ‘da braccio’ or ‘da gamba’ as Medieval iconography also indicates. It has a walnut fingerboard and tailpiece, the ribs, back and neck are made of maple, the soundboard is spruce with boxwood inlays.
Decorated Medieval Fiddle – available for $1066 – This beautiful example of the Medieval fiddle, or vielle, has decorative inlays and the soundboard and back both have a lip instead of flush sides for added design and decoration. The ribs, back and neck are made of maple, the soundboard is spruce and has decorative inlays. The fingerboard and tailpiece are both made of walnut.
5-String Medieval Fiddle – available for $1026 – This Medieval fiddle, or vielle, is slightly larger and more flexible than those more closely resembling the original design of the Medieval vielle. When tuned to e-a-d-g-c you get the range and utility of both a violin and alto viola in one instrument. The ribs, back, and neck are made of maple, the soundboard is spruce with bindings, the fingerboard and tailpiece are made of walnut.
A Fiddle By Any Other Name
If the other name happens to be a vielle, then it isn’t a violin, it is a fiddle, which isn’t a violin either. The vielles that you find made today, as noted in the examples above, are made more to be played like violins than anything else but that is simply a matter of pragmatism and utility. You are likely to see vielles more closely resembling the classic design in Renaissance fairs or a Medieval Times village where you live. There are a few modern musical groups that do play early Medieval music and those that are true to the form will always include vielles. Of note is that starting in the 15th century, the word vielle was hijacked and also used to describe the instrument known as the hurdy gurdy. And for those of you that just thought Donovan was spacing out when coming up with the lyrics to his popular song “Hurdy Gurdy Man” back in 1968, he was not, well maybe he was but he while spacing he was indeed referring to a musician that plays the hurdy gurdy, which is not a vielle.
