Carvot

Carvot is a lesser-known but historically significant musical instrument, primarily associated with the medieval and early Renaissance periods. It belongs to the family of bowed string instruments, resembling a smaller, more portable version of the viol. The exact origins of the carvot are unclear, but it likely emerged in Europe during the late Middle Ages, possibly influenced by earlier instruments like the vielle or the rebec.

The carvot typically features a pear-shaped body with a flat back and a slightly curved front, similar to the viol. It is played while seated, with the instrument resting on the player’s right leg, and is held under the left arm. The strings are plucked or bowed, though its use as a bowed instrument is debated among historians. Some accounts suggest it was primarily a plucked instrument, akin to a lute or psaltery, though others describe it as being played with a bow. The carvot usually has four or five strings, tuned in intervals that facilitate melodic and harmonic playing.

Musical notation from the 14th and 15th centuries occasionally references the carvot, though surviving examples of the instrument itself are rare. It appears in manuscripts alongside other medieval instruments, such as the harp, fiddle, and psaltery, indicating its role in courtly and folk music traditions. The carvot’s design and playing style may have contributed to the development of later instruments like the viola da gamba, though it was largely overshadowed by more prominent bowed instruments as musical tastes evolved.

Today, the carvot is primarily of academic interest, studied by historians and lutenists for its cultural and musical significance. Reconstructions of the instrument have been attempted by modern musicians to better understand its sound and playing techniques. While not commonly used in contemporary music, its place in medieval and Renaissance music history remains an important subject for scholars and enthusiasts of early musical instruments.