Thanks for that Mason Brown, as I have one now but know little about it, just hearing that it can in practice work in a musical context other than an early music consort is enough to make me consider it worthwhile to learn to play.

I have to confess I find it a little hard to imagine myself becoming involved in a more formal early music consort - though who knows - so I doubt I would wish to learn to play if that were the only likely outlet for me. But they are lovely sounding creatures.

Yes, I've heard of the pardessus, and somewhere I recall reading that while the violin was considered a tad vulger or lewd for ladies to play, the pardessus viol was demure enough to be deemed suitable in it's stead.

When I looked at your You-Tube posting I noticed another featuring the pardessus, I hope you don't mind me linking here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0AVXHlIA5uQ&feature=channel

The clips that you show are interesting to see and hear. Compared to the violin the tone adds something quite unusual. I wonder what those you play with, or other fiddle players think of it?