About the Instruments

During its history, the viol was made in several "styles" and each of these more or less had it’s own time and place. Though I’m interested in all types of viols, at present I’m focused on the 17 century English and French instruments which had “bent” fronts (tops).

These were made using the technique of bending and then joining 5 or 7 thinned strips of wood to make the arched shape of the front. This is unlike other types of viols and the violin family instruments where the front is carved from two thick wedges joined in the center of the instrument. This type of construction was only identified in surviving instruments about 30 years ago. Until then, it was assumed the fronts were made from multiple narrow, thick pieces joined together and then carved into shape.

One can speculate but nothing is recorded that can tell us exactly why this method of construction evolved. From the luthiers point of view though, this is a very significant structural feature . The wood fibers of the front are made to follow through the complex, arched shape. If done correctly the natural virtue of the design, allowing for thinner, light yet strong fronts, would also give them something of their own sound and responsiveness.

Of course there are many other factors that ultimately make an instrument what it is but It was a design that must have been well appreciated, for whatever reason, since it was used by the best known makers of it's day.

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