Instruments by Trouvere Music Works

Bow for Medieval String Instruments by Trouvere Music Works, suitable for rebecs, medieval fiddles and vielles. Handmade from white oak and black horse hair.

Based on 13th to 15th Century examples, this fiddle has a full violin scale length. These fiddles have a shallower bridge and flatter fingerboard than a modern violin. This is the most popular model, both because of their sound and because they are the most familiar to those players with experience playing a modern violin. They have solid poplar bodies with a spruce soundboard, maple bridge, white oak, maple, walnut or cherry tailpiece, walnut fingerboard, and boxwood or ebony nut. Individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch.

This medieval fiddle (or vielle) is very resonant with a versatile playing volume. It is made with a solid poplar body, spruce soundboard, walnut fingerboard, white oak tailpiece, maple bridge and Boxwood nut. It is the perfect instrument for those looking to explore the medieval fiddle, and is very accessible for a modern string player. Individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch.

These Citoles are based on the Cantigas de Santa Maria and have an exceptional tone and resonance. They have a solid poplar body with a spruce soundboard, maple or white oak tailpiece, maple bridge, walnut or cherry or maple fingerboard with nylon frets, boxwood nut and classical guitar strings. Individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch.

Based on a number of 15th Century examples, the string drum is tuned in open D and the strings are struck with a stick, giving a percussive chord. Often shown being played with a tabor pipe, it can lend its unique and interesting sound to any ensemble. This drum has a spruce soundboard with walnut ends, cherry sides and back, maple bridge, ebony violin pegs, and is individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch . The scale length is 19″ and the instrument has a French polished finish.

Based on a number of 15th Century examples, the string drum is tuned in open D and the strings are struck with a stick, giving a percussive chord. Often shown being played with a tabor pipe, it can lend its unique and interesting sound to any ensemble. This drum has a spruce soundboard with walnut ends, cherry sides and back, maple bridge, ebony violin pegs, and is individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch . This is a smaller version of the string drum, with a 16″ scale length and a French polished finish.

Based on a number of 9th Century German manuscripts, this citole has a solid poplar body with a spruce soundboard, maple tailpiece, maple bridge, walnut fingerboard, boxwood nut and modern nylon guitar strings. It has a 24.75″ scale length and a rich, deep tone. Individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch.

This medieval fiddle is based one of the two fiddles that were recovered from hold of the Mary Rose. It has been designed with modern string players in mind and is individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch. This fiddle has a solid poplar body with a spruce soundboard, cherry fingerboard, maple bridge and ebony nut. The bridge and fingerboard are raised making the playing transitional easier for modern players.

This medieval fiddle is based one of the two fiddles that were recovered from hold of the Mary Rose. It has been designed with modern string players in mind and is individually serviced and fitted with gut strings by our luthier prior to despatch. This fiddle has a solid poplar body with a spruce soundboard, cherry fingerboard, maple bridge and ebony nut. The bridge is flat and the fingerboard is level in keeping with other medieval fiddles.