The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 19, 2024
Vielle à roue
1700s
made by
(French)
Overall: 74 x 33 cm (29 1/8 x 13 in.)
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
Also known as a “hurdy-gurdy” or “wheel fiddle,” this instrument produces sound by a hand crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings.Description
The instrumentalist could play melodies on the keyboard that presses tangents against one or more strings. Often there are also multiple drone strings, which give a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resulting in a sound similar to that of bagpipes.This type of instrument is depicted in several artworks in the CMA collection: 1924.656, 2008.34.2, 1960.20.
The vielle à roue is also related to the Swedish nyckelharpa, which was featured on the CMA performing arts series in 2017 played by Emilia Amper.
- "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85. Mentioned: p. 82 www.jstor.orgD. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43. Mentioned: pp. 134-137 www.jstor.org
- Lutes, Lovers, and Lyres: Musical Imagery in the Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 14-June 11, 1989).Exhibition of the Month: Music in Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 2, 1945-February 4, 1946).
- {{cite web|title=Vielle à roue|url=false|author=Pajot of Jánzat|year=1700s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.378