Viol, << VY uhl, >> is the name of a class of stringed instruments played with a bow. Viols were very popular during the 1500’s and 1600’s. By about 1750, they had been largely replaced by other stringed instruments, including the viola and the cello. Interest in viol playing revived during the early 1900’s as part of a renewed interest in early music.
Viols resemble instruments of the violin family. But unlike violins, viols have a flat back and sloping shoulders. Bows and the way in which a viol player holds the bow also differ. Most viols have six strings that are thinner than violin strings. The instruments are made in several sizes, ranging from soprano–the smallest–to bass–the largest. Players hold the smaller viols upright on the lap and the larger ones between the knees.
