Hypatia, do you know my friend David Stenshoel here in Minneapolis? Plays fiddle with Boiled in Lead as well as other bands and venues? He plays a five-string fiddle too, though I never heard him call it a fidola. I had never seen one until I saw his. I just started playing fiddle eighteen months ago, and four strings are really plenty for me right now, but that five-string fiddle sure makes some lovely music with David playing it. He tunes it as you've described, with the low string tuned to C. I think he said it's a Middle Eastern instrument, is that right?