4-stringed 8-shape fiddle

The term fiddle is used interchangeably for all medieval bowed chordophone instruments which used to have 3 to 5 strings. They are also called Vielle, Viela or Viola.

This 4-string model is built in copy of the sculpture of the cathedral of Chartres, France (12th century) and similar to other models of the 12th century in the shape of an 8. The soundboard is composed of two circles joined and reinforced by two wedges. The tops, unlike the oval fidulae, are flat.

The shape that characterises this instrument, that of the eight, may be related to the biblical symbolism of the number 8, which reflects a new life, i.e. the Resurrection, the beginning of a new life in the human being, as well as Christ's own resurrection (on the first day of the week, from which it is deduced that he did so on the eighth day) and the eight others that appear in the Bible.

Violas or fiddles had a resonator and a separate handle from the 12th century onwards. The bridge of the instrument was initially straight, but was later made round so that the bow could rub the strings more easily. The neck was short and sometimes reached the length of the resonator. The C-shaped inward-facing ears are characteristic. The tailpiece was independent and the strings were gut strings. The tuning pegs were placed downwards, i.e. their heads protrude from the back of the pegbox, unlike the 5-stringed oval viola.

This fiddle allows a more open sonority than the bowed vihuela, with a more penetrating sound, ideal for dances or sung melodies.