The viola a chiavi is the early fifteenth century member of the nyckelharpa or “keyed fiddle” family. There are no surviving instruments from this era; instead we learn from drawings and artworks, often in church architecture. Ken was intrigued by this fresco artist Taddeo di Bartolo painted in 1408 in the Cappellina di Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy. The angel is playing a five keyed-instrument; Ken’s adaptation features eighteen keys by request of the customer.
