Kate McWilliams of "Unprofitable Instruments" introduces one of her vielle models.
The vielle was ubiquitous in the Middle Ages. In the opinion of Johannes de Grocheio, they were capable of playing “every musical form.” Existing in an abundance of designs, vielles could play monophonic or polyphonic music, in instrumental consorts or accompanying voices.
This vielle was designed with the modern violinist in mind. It is roughly the same size as a violin with the same number of strings, yet it has a distinctly medieval construction and sound. The four strings can be retuned to A,D,a,d or G,D,g,d, and played convincingly to accompany monophonic song or polyphonic music.
