Vielle à Roue
This guitar-shaped vielle came into use around 1730. A crank turns the wooden wheel which strokes all the strings simultaneously. A keyboard plays the melodies while the three strings on the sides provide a kind of harmonic drone. A fourth drone string on the very left side, called trompette, is calibrated by the tailpiece peg and produces a snarling sound that imitates a trumpet. The trompette-bridge is a later, non-functioning reproduction. In addition, on the right side are four resonance strings that add a sweet touch to the sound.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vielle à Roue
- Maker: François le Jeune (French, Paris 1722–1784 Paris)
- Date: 1760–80
- Geography: France
- Culture: French
- Medium: Maple, pear wood, ebony, ivory, mother-of-pearl
- Dimensions: 8 1/4 × 25 1/2 × 9 1/4 in. (21 × 64.8 × 23.5 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Bowed keyboard
- Credit Line: Gift of Margaret Sittig, 1955
- Object Number: 55.112
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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