Icelandic Fidla, 4 string instrument made for MIM Arizona

This is a copy of an instrument in the Icelandic Museum in Reykjavik, it is unusual in that it has 4 wire strings rather than the 2 horsehair or brass strings. There is also a 1920's copy of this in Copenhagen.

The bridge is flat and is set by a piece of brass which means the strings either have to be all the same diameter. I strung this one in brass all the same diameter initially but finally settled on a tuning of G for the string closest to the player and D# for the 3 drones. Another tuning that would work would be to have 2 thicker drone strings in the center and thinner higher pitched strings on the outside, then it would work like a double 2 stringed fidla, or like the 3 string Jouhikkos which were also originally 2 stringed.




This instrument will be part of the exhibit at the new Museum of Musical instruments Phoenix Arizona

The original is made of pine with oak pegs, mine has spruce top and English poplar body, maple head and oak pegs, the strings are brass, bow is beech with horsehair
I have added some non slip feet to enable the instrument to be played on any type of table and a single internal brace to strengthen the instrument in handling, but keeping it open backed

Many thanks especially to Chris Foster and the Icelandic Musem for their help in making this copy, and to Jill Johnson and The MIM in Arizona

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Fidla
• Icelandic
• MIM
• langspil
• jouhikko
• michael
• King
• Chris
• Foster

[kingolaf99]

Beautiful! It has an almost Asian sound to it.

[michaeljking]

@kingolaf99 Thanks!! 

[0348511]

my bad i hit the dislike button :P

[michaeljking]

@0348511 easily done.. thanks for commenting!

[2Kortoso]

What year is the original from? Thanks!

[michaeljking]

@2Kortoso 18th/19th century for this incarnation,  the early fidla however had two strings, probaly of Horsehair or sheepgut....

[stiofanbreathnach]

Great stuff.

[hibiscusann]

Hej Michael,

It looks great! What fun! Yes it is a part of the museum's permanent collection! It is SO cool.

Thanks to you and all who helped you!!!

Jill

[hibiscusann]

Hej Michael,

This looks great! It is indeed a part of the Musical Instrument Museum's permanent collection. Many thanks to you and to Christ Foster!

Jill

[michaeljking]

I think it will be in the permanent collection