approach

recordings

today's vielles

historic instruments

Recordings:

-Ovoïde model with gut melodic string
-Ovoïde model with harmonic melodic strings

Demo of Hermeline Model (acoustic sound)

Elec fonctionnement

Demo of Elec model (piezo sensors),
presentation with 6+6 keyboard (for more details)

- 0:20 C gut string, string pressure variation, tapping
-2:20 C steel string, tapping,
-3:10 normal pressure,
-5:00 light pressure,
-6:16 very light,
-6:45 + delay effect,
-7:41 light pressure + delay

Elec plein jeu

Demo of Elec model (piezo sensors),
playing with 3 strings: C melodic, drone & trumpet.

Elec accords

Demo of Elec model (piezo sensors),
playing with 2 harmonic strings. With 6+6 keyboad you have an immediat view of possible chords.

Accord variables et fixes sur vielle (modèle compact)

Compact model, variables et parallel chords,
playing with Shertler DYN sensor, de 1 melodic strings (F gut), & 2 B flat steel harmonic strings.

Redesigned vielles

My research has led to the creation of a new type of keyboard with keys moving by swinging.
This keyboard avoids the disadvantages of traditional system with sliding keys, it allows a number of melodic string more important.
The sliding keyboard was invented in the 11th century and then improved in 18th (chromatic keyboard).
Why the vielle could not continue its evolution today?
Should we still play keyboards as they were invented at the time of
Louis XV?

With this new keyboard, I can install up to 10 melodic strings with a wheel with a diameter of 200mm, or 6 with a 160mm wheel.

Why so many melodic strings?

The abundance of melodic strings can increase the play opportunities for greater variation, creativity and musicality.

-timbre variation and fixed chords: by using strings of different materials and tensions or by making chords between melodic strings.

-vary the keys: changing melodic strings in place to facilitate change of tone, without changing the fingering.

-tapping: on models of electric or electroacoustic vielles, strings can be simply struck by the jacks, and this sound can create an accompaniment with other melodic strings in contract with the wheel.

-variable chords: a good technic I experimented is the removing of jacks (photo at right) on two identical strings (harmonic melodic strings). By removing one jack on two, it is possible to do all chords with several odd semitones (half-tone, minor thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths...) are allowed.

Lutherie

For the achievement of the resonance box, the models painted by Georges de la Tour were my first inspiration, but also was the Jean-Luc Bleton's approach presented by (in “vielle à roue - territoires illimités” edition FAMDT). Thus, I chose to carry out and arched bottom (it fits in cylinder) and a symmetrical convex table, the whole made out of maple. The system of double maple arches allows a better rigidity of the ensemble, therefore it limits the inner reinforcement, and thus it release and amplify vibrations of the bottom. What produces a better sound quality.

Sound electric treatment

I propose 3 levels of sound according to your needs:

Acoustic sound system:
You want one or two microphones that capture the best natural sound environment of the instrument: For this I propose a aerian Lavalier micro placed on the wheel cover, or a Schertler DYN placed on the surface of the table or the bottom. This microphone can be doubled to produce a stereo output.

Electroacoustic sound system:
The sound is captured at the source, in the brigges closest to the strings. Depending on the complexity of the instrument, there will be 3 to 5 (or more) sensors. I use Schertler STAT (excellent quality sensors ) or Piezo sensors of good quality.

Electric model:
Elec model is designed to be played amplified, with 3 or 4 sensors

CAD view of Elec model (see more details)

Revolution parts,

Corresponding to wheel cylindricity, the pegbox (photo below), and the tailpiece are turned in one maple part.
Advantages: design and fabrication simplification, a new simpler style corresponding to keyboard design, the possibility of more melodic strings.

On Ovoïde model, you can see the keys (cutted polyamide sheets) and black jacks wich are scewed on them.
Here the jacks are visible, according your preferences, it is possible to cover them as they are in traditionnal vielles.

You can see 2 harmonic strings for making variable chords, with one jack on two.

Recent Innovations

Keyboard without shaft

I recently redesigned all models with a new keyboard without axis. The advantages are: lightness, ease of implementation and improved acoustics because the keyboard can be raised from the soundboard.

CAD view of keyboard on Expert model

Quick Change String
No more little papers!

With the diversification of strings, a new need arose: to quickly remove and replace strings playing position along their length. For this, I created a lifting device positioned at each end of the string. In addition, each string is equipped with a screw for adjusting the pressure of the string on the wheel.

On this view of expert model, one can see a bridge equipped with lifting systems and screws used to adjust the string pressure on the wheel. At the other end, the nuts are also equipped to move forward and backward strings. Thus the strings not used can not be affected by the jacks. Objective: maintain contact with only the playing strings, for more precision and flexibility of play.

2 outputs for the melodic strings

The advantage of using two bridges, is to differentiate the sound treatment for two melodic strings groups. In addition the sound processing will allow to achieve a natural stereo effect.

Style

Hermeline new model allows the achievment of a covered swinging key keyboard, so the style is more similar to ancien instruments

more details on this models


closed cover	opened keyboard

Historic instruments

The creativity of the medieval luthiers is very amazing, and instruments whose inner workings are still very mysterious. Already done, the reconstruction of the vielle painted by Georges de la Tour is my first work in this direction. The biggest challenge was to imagine parts of the instrument not represented by the iconography.

My sources: Vielleur au chapeau, Rixe de musiciens and Vielleur au chien painted around 1650 by Georges de La Tour and Manuscrit du Zodiaque (Lyon) from 15th century, in wich the vielle was chosen to illustrate the constellation of the Lyre.

vielleur au chien

vielleur au chapeau

Extract of Manuscrit du Zodiaque (Lyon 15th century) where the instrument was chosen illustrate the constellation of the Lyre. The fact that the vielle was chosen show us the importance of the instrument at this period. What commonalities between Homer blind, going from town to town with his lyre to sing his poems and blind vielle players of this time such as Georges de la Tour painted them.

Other project: a symphony reconstructed according several sources (for example MS Psalterio Luttrel 1325 below). I tried to design the keyboard as it was during the middle age and not to insert a keyboard as it was invented during 18th century.

CAD view of symphony reconstruction

Symphony
MS Psalterio Luttrel
1325