This is a larger bodied instrument with
a string length of 420mm making it ideal for playing in a downward
position rather than on the shoulder (although it is still playable
so). It is based on instruments (pictured below) in the thirteenth
century Spanish Cantigas da Santa Maria manuscript, and due to it's
larger size, it is constructed from separate pieces rather than
being carved from the solid. Oval instruments are perhaps more
likely to have had flatter bridges, however the angle of the neck on
this instrument does allow a bridge that enables single string
playing.
The pictures below show two alternatives for bridge construction
that are available on any of my vielles. There is iconographical
evidence for both bridges (left) and tailpieces with feet (right).
Do email
me if you would be interested to know more. |
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