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Vielle

Vielle.jpg Rector and Doctor of the University of ParisThumbnailsThe French CroutRector and Doctor of the University of ParisThumbnailsThe French CroutRector and Doctor of the University of ParisThumbnailsThe French CroutRector and Doctor of the University of ParisThumbnailsThe French Crout

The woodcut represents a very beautiful vielle; French, of about 1550, with monograms of Henry II. This is at South Kensington.

The contrivance of placing a string or two at the side of the finger-board is evidently very old, and was also gradually adopted on other instruments of the violin class of a somewhat later period than that of the vielle; for instance, on the lira di braccio of the Italians. It was likewise adopted on the lute, to obtain a fuller power in the bass; and hence arose the theorbo, the archlute, and other varieties of the old lute.