vihuela music
The vihuela, viola de mà, viola da mano or viola de mão is a fifteenth century stringed instrument from Spain, shaped like a guitar - the Spanish equivalent of the lute. It was used in Spain in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Usually its five or six doubled strings were plucked, but there's also a bowed version, called the vihuela de arco. The vihuela is used for performing some early music, but it's also widespread in Mexican Mariachi music.
A selection of articles about vihuela music
Spotlight. Beautiful Stuff - Gerald Fenech admires vocal music from sixteenth century Guatemala. '... I could not but admire the sheer passion and enthusiasm of the Alvarado and Abramovich duo in their performances of this exceptional and plaintive repertoire ...'
Spotlight. Superb Performances - Amber Lin and Jeffrey Neil investigate Christine Moore Vassallo's journey through Spanish song. 'Christine Moore Vassallo and her ensemble were a delight to experience.'
CD Spotlight. Redefining the Idiomatic - Contemporary music for baroque instruments, heard by John Dante Prevedini. 'I consider the results compelling, and I hope to hear more works for these resurrected instruments in this new idiom.'