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{{Short description|Spanish string instrument}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{For|the instrument native to Mexico and used in Mariachi groups|Mexican vihuela}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox Instrument
|name                  = Vihuela
|names                 =
|image                 = Bernardino_di_Betto_Pinturicchio.jpg
|image_size = 
|sound sample          = {{listen |filename=Vihuela Jamaica Playford.ogg|title=Vihuela sample |description=A vihuela playing 'Jamaica' from Playford's ''[[The Dancing Master]]'' (c.1670) |image=[[File:TheDancingMaster-1stEd-TitlePage.png|100px]]
}}
|caption               = Vihuela/Viola da mano depicted by [[Pinturicchio]] in the mid–15th century
|background            =  
|classification        = [[String instrument]] ([[plucked string instrument|plucked]])
|hornbostel_sachs      = [[List of musical instruments by Hornbostel–Sachs number: 32|321.322]]
|hornbostel_sachs_desc = Composite [[chordophone]]
|developed             = Mid-15th century
|range                 =
|related               = *[[Bowed string instrument|Bowed]] and [[plucked string instrument|plucked]] string instruments
}}

The '''vihuela''' ({{IPA|es|viˈwela}}) is a 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument, shaped like a guitar (figure-of-eight form offering strength and portability) but tuned like a [[lute]]. It was used in 15th- and 16th-century Spain as the equivalent of the lute in Italy and has a large resultant repertory. There were usually five or six{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} doubled strings.

A bowed version, the '''vihuela de arco''' (arco meaning bow), was conceived in Spain and made in Italy from 1480. One consequence was the phrase '''vihuela de mano''' being thereafter applied to the original plucked instrument. The term ''vihuela'' became "viola" in Italian ("viole" in Fr.; "viol" in Eng.), and the bowed vihuela de arco was to serve as a prototype in the hands of the Italian craftsmen for the "[[viol|da gamba]]" family of fretted bowed string instruments, as developed starting in 1480. Their vihuela-inherited frets made these easier to play in tune than the [[rebec]] family (precursors of the "[[Lira da braccio|da braccio]]" family), and so they became popular for chamber music.

== History ==
[[File:ViolaDaMano Raimondi c1510.jpg|thumb|170px|left|''Viola da mano'', detail from an engraving by [[Marcantonio Raimondi]], was made before 1510. It depicts poet Giovanni Filoteo Achillini playing the instrument]]
The ''vihuela'', as it was known in Spanish, was called the ''viola de mà'' in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], ''viola da mano'' in Italian and ''viola de mão'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]. The two names are functionally synonymous and interchangeable. In its most developed form, the vihuela was a guitar-shaped instrument with six double-strings (paired courses) made of [[Catgut|gut]]. Vihuelas were tuned identically to their contemporary Renaissance [[lute]]; [[Perfect fourth|4ths]] and one [[Major Third|major 3rd]] (44344, almost like a modern [[guitar tuning]], with the exception of the third string, which was tuned a [[semitone]] lower).

Plucked vihuelas, being essentially flat-backed lutes, evolved in the mid-15th century, in the [[Kingdom of Aragón]], located in north-eastern Iberia (Spain). In Spain, Portugal, and Italy the vihuela was in common use by the late 15th through to the late 16th centuries. In the second half of the 15th century, some vihuela players began using a bow, leading to the development of the [[viol]].

There were several different types of vihuela (or different playing methods at least):
*Vihuela de mano: 6 or 5 courses played with the fingers
*Vihuela de penola: played with a plectrum
*Vihuela de arco: played with a bow (ancestor of the [[viola da gamba]])

Tunings for 6 course vihuela de mano (44344): 
* G C F A D G 
* C F B{{music|flat}} D G C

Although mainstream use of the vihuela has faded away, traces of the complex polyphonic music that was its repertoire in the late 16th century, along with the other primary instrument of the Spanish and Portuguese Renaissance, the [[cross-strung harp]], both of which can be heard in Mexican Mariachi music. The vihuela's descendants that are still played are the ''[[viola campaniça|violas campaniças]]'' of [[Portugal]].  Much of the vihuela's place, role, and function was taken up by the subsequent [[Baroque guitar]] (also sometimes referred to as vihuela or bigüela). Currently, the vihuela is in widespread use in Mexican Mariachi music, where its distinctive sound is featured in solos. Additionally, the vihuela is used for the performance of [[early music]], using modern replicas of historical instruments. Today, instruments like the [[tiple]] are descendants of vihuelas brought to America in the 16th century.

== Construction ==
{{multiple image
|caption_align = center
|header_align = center
|header= Plucked and bowed
|align = left
|total_width = 650
|image1 = Cytharas with the Lamb of God.jpg | width1 = 118
|caption1 = '''Spain''', c. 960 a.d. "Cytharas" (identified from text) with players strumming with fingers (de mano) and plucking with plectrum (de penola). From ''[[Commentary on the Apocalypse]]'', Morgan Library, Ms 644.
|image2 = Violas de arco en un manuscrito del año 900 - 950.jpg
| caption2  = '''Spain''', "second third of 10th century".<ref name="14-1">{{cite web |url= http://bdh.bne.es/bnesearch/detalle/bdh0000047185 |title= Título uniforme [In Apocalipsin] Title Beati in Apocalipsin libri duodecim  |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=bdh.bne.es |publisher=BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL HISPÁNICA |access-date= 10 December 2016}}</ref> [[Viola de arco|Violas de arco]] played with a bow. Calling them "de arco" (with bow) indicates that other types exist. From Commentary on the Apocalypse, ''Codice VITR 14.1''.<ref name="14-1"/>
|image3 = Vihuela de arco y vihuela de péñola en las Cantigas.jpg
|caption3  = Musicians playing the vihuela (or [[vielle]]), one with a bow, the other plucked by hand, in the ''[[Cantigas de Santa Maria]]'' of [[Alfonso X of Castile]], 13th century
| footer_background = #efefef
| footer            = Instruments from Spain that were labeled [[cythara]]s in the manuscripts have resemblances to other later instruments, and the names of these later instruments (coming from different languages) are similar to one another, vihuela, viola, vielle.
}}
Vihuela bodies were lightly constructed from thin flat slabs or pieces of wood, bent or curved as required. This construction method distinguished them from some earlier types of string instruments whose bodies (if not the entire instrument including the neck) were carved out from a solid single block of wood. The back and sides of common [[lutes]] were also made ''of pieces'' however, being multiple curved or bent ''staves'' joined and glued together to form a bowl, made from cypress with a spruce or cedar top.

Vihuela (and violas da gamba) were built in different sizes, large and small, a family of instruments. Duet music was published for vihuelas tuned one step, a minor third, a fourth, or a fifth apart, as well as unison tuned.

The physical appearance of vihuelas was varied and diverse; there was little standardization and no mass production. Overall and in general, vihuelas looked very similar to modern guitars. The first generation of vihuela, from the mid-15th century on, had sharp cuts to its waist, similar to that of a violin. A second generation of vihuela, beginning sometime around 1490, took on the now-familiar smooth-curved figure-eight shaped body contours. The sharp waist-cut models continued to be built into the early-to-mid-16th century, side by side with the later pattern. Many early vihuelas had extremely long necks, while others had the shorter variety. Top decoration, the number, shape, and placement, of sound holes, ports, pierced rosettes, etc., also varied greatly.  More than a few styles of peg-boxes were used as well.

Vihuelas were chromatically fretted in a manner similar to [[lutes]], by means of movable, wrapped-around and tied-on gut frets. Vihuelas, however, usually had ten frets, whereas lutes had only seven.  Unlike modern guitars, which often use steel and bronze strings, vihuelas were gut strung, and usually in paired courses. Gut strings produce a sonority far different from metal, generally described as softer and sweeter.  A six course vihuela could be strung in either of two ways: with 12 strings in 6 pairs, or 11 strings in total if a single unpaired ''chanterelle'' is used on the first (or highest pitched) course. Unpaired chanterelles were common on all [[lute]]s, vihuelas, and (other) early guitars (both [[Renaissance guitar]]s and [[Baroque guitar]]s).

== Repertoire ==
{{multiple image
|caption_align = left
|header= 
|align = right
|total_width = 300
|image1 =  Frontispiece Libro de música de vihuela de mano intitulado El maestro by Luis Milan.jpg
|caption1 = [[Orpheus]] playing a vihuela. Frontispiece from the famous book ''Libro de música de vihuela de mano intitulado El maestro'' by [[Luis de Milán]], 1536 
|image2 =Vihuela-Tab Fuenllana 1554.jpg
|caption2  = Example of numeric vihuela [[tablature]] from the book ''Orphenica Lyra'' by Miguel de Fuenllana (1554). Red numerals (original) mark the vocal part
| footer = 
}}
The first person to publish a collection of music for the vihuela was the Spanish composer [[Luis de Milán]], with his volume titled ''Libro de música de vihuela de mano intitulado El maestro'' of 1536 dedicated to [[King John III of Portugal]].  The notational device used throughout this and other vihuela music books is a numeric [[tablature]] (otherwise called "lute tablature"), which is also the model from which modern "guitar tab" was fashioned.  The music is easily performed by retuning to Classic lute and vihuela tuning (44344). The [[tablature]] system used in all these texts is the "Italian" tablature, wherein the stopped frets are indicated by numbers and the lowest line of the staff represents the highest-pitch course (or string), resembling the neck of the instrument in playing position; Milán's book also uses numbers to indicate the stopping of the courses but exceptionally it is the top line of the staff that represents the highest-pitch course, as in "French" tablature.

The printed books of music for the vihuela which have survived are, in chronological order: 
* ''El Maestro''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Libro_de_M%C3%BAsica_de_Vihuela_de_mano_(Mil%C3%A1n%2C_Luis)] by [[Luis de Milán]] (1536)
* ''Los seys libros del Delphin''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Los_seys_libros_del_delph%C3%ADn_(Narv%C3%A1ez%2C_Luys_de)] by [[Luis de Narváez]] (1538)  
* ''Tres Libros de Música''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Tres_libros_de_m%C3%BAsica_en_cifra_para_vihuela_(Mudarra%2C_Alonso)] by [[Alonso Mudarra]] (1546) 
* ''Silva de Sirenas''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Libro_de_musica_de_vihuela_(Valderr%C3%A1bano%2C_Enr%C3%ADquez_de)] by [[Enríquez de Valderrábano]] (1547) 
* ''Libro de Música de Vihuela''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Libro_de_m%C3%BAsica_de_Vihuela_(Pisador%2C_Diego)] by [[Diego Pisador]] (1552) 
* ''Orphénica Lyra''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Orphenica_lyra_(Fuenllana%2C_Miguel_de)] by [[Miguel de Fuenllana]] (1554) 
* ''Libro de Cifra Nueva para tecla, arpa y vihuela''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Libro_de_cifra_nueva_(Venegas_de_Henestrosa,_Luis)] by [[Luis Venegas de Henestrosa]] (1557)
* ''El Parnasso''[https://imslp.org/wiki/El_Parnasso_(Daza%2C_Esteban)] by [[Estevan Daça]] (1576)
* ''Obras de musica para tecla, arpa y vihuela''[https://imslp.org/wiki/Obras_de_musica_para_tecla,_arpa_y_vihuela_(Cabez%C3%B3n,_Antonio_de)] by [[Antonio de Cabezón]] (1578)

== Surviving instruments ==
There are three surviving historic vihuelas:<ref name=Barber2015>''The surviving instruments'' section of {{cite book | chapter   = 12 Vihuela, viola da mano | chapter-url= http://www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/cat12.htm | title     = Catalogue and Price List 2015 | publisher = Stephen Barber & Sandi Harris
}}</ref>
* The 'Guadalupe' vihuela in the [[Musée Jacquemart-André]]
* The 'Chambure' instrument in the [[Cité de la Musique]]<ref>[https://collectionsdumusee.philharmoniedeparis.fr/0159084-vihuela-de-mano.aspx Vihuela de mano], Musée de la musique, Paris.</ref>
* A relic of Saint Mariana de Jesús (1618–1645), kept in the [[Compañía de Jesús, Quito|Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesús de Quito]].

Modern versions of the vihuela continue to be made. Performers adept with the vihuela include the Scottish composer [[Robert MacKillop]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vihuelademano.com/ |title=Vihuela de mano index |author=Batov, Alexander |year=2012 |work=Vihuelademano.com |access-date=9 June 2013 }}</ref> English lutenist [[Julian Bream]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP1kJlCMdrw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/wP1kJlCMdrw| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Julian Bream A Musical Journey through Spain Part 1access-date=21 June 2021 |website=[[YouTube]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the American artist [[Hopkinson Smith]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bernardino di Betto Pinturicchio.jpg|1493, Italy. Italian version of the instrument.
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Mexican vihuela]]

== Bibliography ==
* Ronald C. Purcell: ''Classic Guitar, Lute and Vihuela Discography'', Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp., Melville, NY, 1976, 116 p., LC: 75-42912 (no ISBN) ("There are more than 100 artists listed as well as approximately 400 composers and 400 individual records.")
* Ian Woodfield: ''The Early History of the Viol'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984 (includes much early vihuela history; viols are bowed vihuelas)

== Notes ==
{{note|1}} The words ''vihuela'' and ''viola'' are etymologically related.<ref>[http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=vihuela "Vihuela." Real Academia Española, ''Diccionario de la Real Academia Española'', 23d ed. Online. Accessed 25 Dec. 2008.]</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vihuela family instruments|Vihuelas}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041112120416/http://www.gyremusic.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=30 Delphin] (with vihuela sound samples)
* [http://www.sociedaddelavihuela.com/ Sociedad de la Vihuela]
* [http://lexeisenhardt.com/ Lex Eisenhardt, vihuelist] 
* [http://www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/cat12.htm lutesandguitars.co.uk] Stephen Barber & Sandi Harris, lutemakers and researchers
* [http://vihuelademano.com vihuelademano.com] Alexander Batov, vihuela maker and researcher
* [http://www.cayrasco.com Capilla Cayrasco & Camerata Cayrasco, director Eligio Luis Quinteiro]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061121211829/http://www.goldbergweb.com/en/magazine/essays/2005/04/31026_print.php Goldberg magazine: ''Los dos rinacimintos de la vihuela''] The 20th-century resurgence of the vihuela
* Several photos of Spanish vihuelas can be found among the [http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/new/new_lute.html instrument photos at Wayne Cripps's lute pages].
* [http://www.liuteriadinsieme.it/strumenti/vihuela.html liuteriadinsieme.it] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084408/http://www.liuteriadinsieme.it/strumenti/vihuela.html |date=29 September 2007 }} Liuteria d'insieme: lutemakers and researchers
* [https://picasaweb.google.com/102994587679349740660/Vihuelas02?noredirect=1/ Vihuela photos]

{{Classical guitar}}
{{Renaissance music}}
{{Music of Spain}}
{{Lute}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Guitar family instruments]]
[[Category:Early musical instruments]]
[[Category:Spanish musical instruments]]
[[Category:Spanish words and phrases]]
[[Category:Necked box lutes]]