0 a wooden musical instrument with strings and frets, popular from the 15th to the 17th century. Viols are held vertically and played with a bow, like a cello.
That instrument, called the violin, was much better than the viol its tone was like the human voice and could express every feeling and passion.
From then on the villagers took pleasure in dancing and singing to the strains of his viol.
Seaven passionate pavana, with divers other pavans, galiards, and almands, set forth for the lute, viols or violins, in five parts.
Fretwork is known for its global touring and, as well as performances of early music, commissioning new compositions for viol consort.
It is more closely related, however, to the double-bass family, known as the viol family.
The double bass is the only modern bowed string instrument that is tuned in fourths (like a viol), rather than fifths.
It is scored for 5 vv (usually four viols and countertenor).
Ensembles like these show that the viol is making a comeback.
