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For other uses, see Violin (disambiguation).
Violin
Violin
Classification

String instrument (bowed)
Playing range
Related instruments
Musicians
Builders
  • Luthiers
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This article is part of the Fiddle and Violin series. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs In Music, a bow is moved across some part of a Musical instrument, causing Vibration which the instrument emits as Sound. In Music, the range of a Musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The Violin family of Musical instruments was developed in Italy in the Sixteenth century. The viola is a bowed String instrument. It is the middle voice of the Violin family, The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ The viol (also called viola da gamba) is any one of a family of bowed, Fretted stringed Musical instruments developed in the 1400s The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century

The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. The distinctive sound of a violin is the result of interactions between its many parts This list of notable fiddlers shows some crossover with the List of violinists since the instruments used are quite similar if not identical The violin first emerged in northern Italy in the early 16th century. Classical music Since the Baroque era the violin ( Baroque violin) has been one of the most important of all instruments in classical music, for several Making an instrument of the Violin family may be done in different ways many of which have changed very little in nearly 500 years since the first violins were made Playing the violin entails holding the instrument under the chin supported by the left shoulder (see below for variations of this posture A Violin consists of a body or corpus a neck a bridge, a soundpost four strings, and various fittings The Violin family of Musical instruments was developed in Italy in the Sixteenth century. The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century In Music, a bow is moved across some part of a Musical instrument, causing Vibration which the instrument emits as Sound. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs A string is the vibrating element that is the source of vibration in String instruments such as the Guitar, Harp, Piano, and members The perfect fifth ( is the Musical interval between a note and the note seven Semitones above it on the musical scale It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola and cello. The Violin family of Musical instruments was developed in Italy in the Sixteenth century. The viola is a bowed String instrument. It is the middle voice of the Violin family, The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ

A violin is sometimes informally called a fiddle, regardless of the type of music played on it. The word "violin" comes to us through the Romance languages from the Middle Latin word vitula, meaning "stringed instrument";[1] this word is also believed to be the source of the Germanic "fiddle". The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the Liturgical language of the medieval The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family.

A person who plays the violin is called a violinist or fiddler, and a person who makes or repairs them is called a luthier, or simply a violin maker.

Contents

History

The earliest stringed instruments were mostly plucked (e. g. the Greek lyre). The lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and later Bowed instruments may have originated in the equestrian cultures of Central Asia, an example being the Mongolian instrument Morin huur:

Turkic and Mongolian horsemen from Inner Asia were probably the world’s earliest fiddlers. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The morin khuur (морин хуур or matouqin (馬頭琴 is a Chordophone of Mongolian origin whose name roughly translates Their two-stringed upright fiddles were strung with horsehair strings, played with horsehair bows, and often feature a carved horse’s head at the end of the neck. . . . The violins, violas, and cellos we play today, and whose bows are still strung with horsehair, are a legacy of the nomads. [2].

It is believed that these instruments eventually spread to China, India, and the Middle East, where they developed into instruments such as the erhu (China) and rebab (Middle East), and esraj (India). The erhu ( also called nanhu ( 南[[wikt 胡|胡]] "southern fiddle" and sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese The rebab ( Arabic الرباب or رباب; also rebap, rabab, rebeb, The esraj (Bengali এস্রাজ also called israj) is a String instrument found in two forms throughout the north central and The violin in its present form emerged in early 16th century in Northern Italy, where the port towns of Venice and Genoa maintained extensive ties through the trade routes of the Mongol Empire. Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the Genoa ( Genova, ˈdʒɛːnova in Italian; Zena in Genoese and Ligurian; Genua in Latin and archaically in English The Mongol Empire ( Mongolyn Ezent Güren or mn Их Mонгол улс Ikh Mongol Uls; 1206–1368 was the largest contiguous Empire

The modern European violin evolved from various bowed stringed instruments which were brought from the Middle East. [3] Most likely the first makers of violins borrowed from three types of current instruments: the rebec, in use since the 10th century (itself derived from the Arabic rebab), the Renaissance fiddle, and the lira da braccio. The rebec (sometimes rebeck, and originally various other spellings is a bowed string Musical instrument. Arabic music or Arab music ( Arabic: موسيقى عربية;) includes several genres and styles of Music ranging from Arabic classical The rebab ( Arabic الرباب or رباب; also rebap, rabab, rebeb, The lira da braccio was a European bowed String instrument of the Renaissance. [4] One of the earliest explicit descriptions of the instrument, including its tuning, was in the Epitome musical by Jambe de Fer, published in Lyon in 1556. ||-||} Lyon, also known as Lyons in English is a city in east-central France. [5] By this time, the violin had already begun to spread throughout Europe.

The oldest documented violin to have four strings, like the modern violin, is supposed to has been constructed in 1555 by Andrea Amati, but the date is doubtuful. Amati is the name of a family of Italian Violin makers who flourished at Cremona from about 1549 to 1740 (Other violins, documented significantly earlier, only had three strings. ) The violin immediately became very popular, both among street musicians and the nobility, illustrated by the fact that the French king Charles IX ordered Amati to construct 24 violins for him in 1560. Charles IX (27 June 1550 &ndash 30 May 1574 born Charles-Maximilien, was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death [6] The oldest surviving violin, dated inside, is from this set, and is known as the "Charles IX," made in Cremona c. Cremonese redirects here For the football team see US Cremonese Cremona is a City in northern Italy, situated 1560. "The Messiah" or "Le Messie" (also known as the "Salabue") made by Antonio Stradivari in 1716 remains pristine, never having been used. Antonio Stradivari (1644 &ndash December 18 1737 was an Italian Luthier, a crafter of Stringed instruments such as Violins cellos It is now located in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford. The Ashmolean Museum (in full the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology) on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, [7]

San Zaccaria Altarpiece (detail), Venice, Giovanni Bellini, 1505
San Zaccaria Altarpiece (detail), Venice, Giovanni Bellini, 1505

The most famous violin makers (luthiers) between the 16th century and the 18th century include:

Significant changes occurred in the construction of the violin in the 18th century, particularly in the length and angle of the neck, as well as a heavier bass bar. Amati is the name of a family of Italian Violin makers who flourished at Cremona from about 1549 to 1740 Guarneri is the family name of a group of distinguished Violin makers ( Luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries whose standing Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the Antonio Stradivari (1644 &ndash December 18 1737 was an Italian Luthier, a crafter of Stringed instruments such as Violins cellos Cremonese redirects here For the football team see US Cremonese Cremona is a City in northern Italy, situated Nicolo Gagliano (fl ca 1740-1780 was an Italian Violin -maker the eldest son of Alessandro Gagliano. Giovanni Battista Guadagnini ( JB Guadagnini; Giambattista Guadagnini; June 23 1711 - September 18 1786) was an Italian Jacob Stainer (c 1617-1683 was the earliest and best known Austrian Luthier. Absam is a village located approximately 13 km east of Innsbruck, Austria. Tyrol is a region in Western Central Europe, which included the present day Austrian state of Tyrol (consisting of North Tyrol and East The majority of old instruments have undergone these modifications, and hence are in a significantly different state than when they left the hands of their makers, doubtless with differences in sound and response. [8] But these instruments in their present condition set the standard for perfection in violin craftsmanship and sound, and violin makers all over the world try to come as close to this ideal as possible.

To this day, instruments from the "Golden Age" of violin making, especially those made by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, are the most sought-after instruments by both collectors and performers.

Construction and mechanics

The construction of a violin
The construction of a violin
Main article: Violin construction and mechanics

A violin typically consists of a spruce top (the soundboard, also known as the top plate, table, or belly), maple ribs and back, two endblocks, a neck, a bridge, a soundpost, four strings, and various fittings, optionally including a chinrest, which may attach directly over, or to the left of, the tailpiece. A Violin consists of a body or corpus a neck a bridge, a soundpost four strings, and various fittings Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae The sounding board or soundboard is the part of a String instrument that transmits the vibrations of the strings to the air greatly increasing the Loudness The neck is the part of certain String instruments that projects from the main body and is the base of the Fingerboard, where the fingers are placed to stop the strings A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a Stringed instrument and transmitting the Vibration of those strings to some other structural component A chinrest is a shaped piece of wood (or plastic attached to the body of a Violin or a Viola to aid in the positioning of the player's Jaw or chin on the The tailpiece, found on many Musical instruments of the String instrument family anchors the tail end of the strings the end opposite the scroll or A distinctive feature of a violin body is its "hourglass" shape and the arching of its top and back. An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (e The hourglass shape comprises two upper bouts, two lower bouts, and two concave C-bouts at the "waist," providing clearance for the bow. In Music, a bow is moved across some part of a Musical instrument, causing Vibration which the instrument emits as Sound.

The "voice" of a violin depends on its shape, the wood it is made from, the graduation (the thickness profile) of both the top and back, and the varnish which coats its outside surface. The varnish and especially the wood continue to improve with age, making the fixed supply of old violins much sought-after.

All parts of the instrument which are glued together are done so using animal hide glue, a traditional strong water-based adhesive that is reversible, as glued joints can be disassembled if needed. An animal glue is an Adhesive that is created by prolonged boiling of Animal Connective tissue. Weaker, diluted glue is usually used to fasten the top to the ribs, and the nut to the fingerboard, since common repairs involve removing these parts.

The purfling running around the edge of the spruce top provides some protection against cracks originating at the edge. Purfling is a narrow decorative wooden (sometimes Abalone) strip inlaid into the top and (often bottom plates of Stringed instruments. It also allows the top to flex more independently of the rib structure. Painted-on faux purfling on the top is a sign of an inferior instrument. The back and ribs are typically made of maple, most often with a matching striped figure, referred to as "flame," "fiddleback" or "tiger stripe"

The neck is usually maple with a flamed figure compatible with that of the ribs and back. Acer ( maple) is a Genus of Trees or Shrubs They are variously classified in a family of their own the Aceraceae, or In wood figure refers to the appearance of wood as seen on a longitudinal surface (side-grain a "figured wood" is not plain The neck is the part of certain String instruments that projects from the main body and is the base of the Fingerboard, where the fingers are placed to stop the strings It carries the fingerboard, typically made of ebony, but often some other wood stained or painted black. The fingerboard (also known as a fretboard on fretted instruments is a part of most Stringed instruments It is a thin long strip of Wood that is Ebony is the preferred material because of its hardness, beauty, and superior resistance to wear. [9] Fingerboards are dressed to a particular transverse curve, and have a small lengthwise "scoop," or concavity, slightly more pronounced on the lower strings, especially when meant for gut or synthetic strings.

Some old violins (and some made to appear old) have a grafted scroll, evidenced by a glue joint between the pegbox and neck. A scroll is the decoratively carved end of the neck of certain stringed instruments, mainly members of the Violin family. Many authentic old instruments have had their necks reset to a slightly increased angle, and lengthened by about a centimeter. The neck graft allows the original scroll to be kept with a Baroque violin when bringing its neck into conformance with modern standards. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc

Closeup of a violin tailpiece, with a fleur-de-lis
Closeup of a violin tailpiece, with a fleur-de-lis
Front and back views of violin bridge
Front and back views of violin bridge
Sound post seen through f-hole
Sound post seen through f-hole

The bridge is a precisely cut piece of maple that forms the lower anchor point of the vibrating length of the strings and transmits the vibration of the strings to the body of the instrument. The tailpiece, found on many Musical instruments of the String instrument family anchors the tail end of the strings the end opposite the scroll or The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily A sound hole is an opening in the upper Sounding board of a stringed Musical instrument. A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a Stringed instrument and transmitting the Vibration of those strings to some other structural component Its top curve holds the strings at the proper height from the fingerboard in an arc, allowing each to be sounded separately by the bow. The sound post, or "soul post," fits precisely inside the instrument between the back and top, below the treble foot of the bridge, which it helps support. In a String instrument, the sound post is a small Dowel inside the instrument under the treble end of the bridge spanning the space between the top and back plates It also transmits vibrations between the top and the back of the instrument.

The tailpiece anchors the strings to the lower bout of the violin by means of the tailgut, which loops around the endpin, which fits into a tapered hole in the bottom block. The tailpiece, found on many Musical instruments of the String instrument family anchors the tail end of the strings the end opposite the scroll or Very often the E string will have a fine tuning lever worked by a small screw turned by the fingers. Fine tuners may also be applied to the other strings, especially on a student instrument, and are sometimes built in to the tailpiece.

At the scroll end, the strings wind around the tuning pegs in the pegbox. A tuning peg is used to hold a string in the Pegbox of a stringed instrument. Strings usually have a colored silk wrapping at both ends, for identification and to provide friction against the pegs. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons The tapered pegs allow friction to be increased or decreased by the player applying appropriate pressure along the axis of the peg while turning it.

Violin and bow.
Violin and bow.

Strings

Strings were first made of sheep gut (commonly known as catgut), stretched, dried and twisted. A string is the vibrating element that is the source of vibration in String instruments such as the Guitar, Harp, Piano, and members Catgut is the name applied to cord of great toughness and tenacity prepared from the Intestines of the Sheep or Goat, or occasionally from those of the Modern strings may be gut, solid steel, stranded steel, or various synthetic materials, wound with various metals. Most E strings are unwound, either plain or gold-plated steel.

Violinists often carry replacement strings with their instruments to have one available in case a string breaks. Strings have a limited lifetime; apart from obvious things, such as the winding of a string coming undone from wear, a player will generally change a string when it no longer plays "true," with a negative effect on intonation, or when it loses the desired tone. The longevity of a string depends on how much and how intensely one plays. The E string, being the thinnest, tends to break or lose the desired tone more quickly than the others.

For more information, see the strings section of Violin construction. A Violin consists of a body or corpus a neck a bridge, a soundpost four strings, and various fittings

Pitch range

The compass of the violin is from G3 (G below middle C) to the highest note of the modern piano. Scientific pitch notation is one of several methods that name the Notes of the standard Western Chromatic scale by combining a letter-name accidentals C or Do is the first Note of the fixed-Do Solfege. In Western Music, the expression " Middle C " refers to the note The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The top notes, however, are often produced by natural or artificial harmonics. In Acoustics and Telecommunication, the harmonic of a Wave is a component Frequency of the signal that is an Integer

Acoustics

See also Sound production (string instruments)

The arched shape, the thickness of the wood, and its physical qualities govern the sound of a violin. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs Patterns of the nodes made by sand or glitter sprinkled on the plates with the plate vibrated at certain frequencies, called "Chladni patterns," are occasionally used by luthiers to verify their work before assembling the instrument. A node is a point along a Standing wave where the wave has minimal Amplitude. Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni (ˈɛʀnst ˈfloːʀɛns ˈfʀiːdʀɪç ˈkladnɪ November 30, 1756 – April 3, 1827) was a German [1]

Sizes

Children typically use smaller string instruments than adults. Violins are made in so-called "fractional" sizes for young students: Apart from full-size (4/4) violins, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and even 1/32-sized instruments exist. Extremely small sizes were developed, along with the Suzuki program for violin students as young as 3 years old. The is an Educational philosophy which strives to create "high ability" and beautiful character in its students through a nurturing environment Finely-made fractional sized violins, especially smaller than 1/2 size, are extremely rare or nonexistent. Such small instruments are typically intended for beginners needing a rugged violin, and whose rudimentary technique does not justify the expense of a more carefully made one.

These fractional sizes have nothing to do with the actual dimensions of an instrument; in other words, a 3/4-sized instrument is not three-quarters the length of a full size instrument. The body length (not including the neck) of a "full-size" or 4/4 violin is about 14 inches (35 cm), smaller in some 17th century models. A 3/4 violin is about 13 inches (33 cm), and a 1/2 size is approximately 12 inches (30 cm). With the violin's closest family member, the viola, size is specified as body length in inches or centimeters rather than fractional sizes. A "full-size" viola averages 16 inches (40 cm). The viola is a bowed String instrument. It is the middle voice of the Violin family,

Occasionally, an adult with a small frame may use a so-called "7/8" size violin instead of a full-size instrument. Sometimes called a "lady's violin", these instruments are slightly shorter than a full size violin, but tend to be high-quality instruments capable of producing a sound that is comparable to fine full size violins.

Violin sizes are not standardized and dimensions vary slightly between makers.

Tuning

Scroll and pegbox, correctly strung
Scroll and pegbox, correctly strung
The pitches of open strings on a violin
The pitches of open strings on a violin

Violins are tuned by turning the pegs in the pegbox under the scroll, or by adjusting the fine tuner screws at the tailpiece. A tuning peg is used to hold a string in the Pegbox of a stringed instrument. The tailpiece, found on many Musical instruments of the String instrument family anchors the tail end of the strings the end opposite the scroll or All violins have pegs; fine tuners (also called fine adjusters) are optional. Most fine tuners consist of a metal screw that moves a lever to which the string is attached. They permit very small pitch adjustments with much more ease than the pegs.

Fine tuners are usually used with solid metal or composite strings that may be difficult to tune with pegs alone; they are not used with gut strings, which are more elastic and don't respond adequately to the very small movements of fine tuners. In Solid mechanics, Young's modulus (E is a measure of the Stiffness of an isotropic elastic material Some violinists have fine tuners on all 4 strings; most classical players have only a single fine tuner on the E string. Most violinists prefer one fine tuner because fine tuners often can damage the top of the violin.

To tune a violin, the A string is first tuned to a standard pitch (usually 440 Hz), using either a tuning device or another instrument. Pitch represents the perceived Fundamental frequency of a sound Pitch represents the perceived Fundamental frequency of a sound The hertz (symbol Hz) is a measure of Frequency, informally defined as the number of events occurring per Second. (When accompanying a fixed-pitch instrument such as a piano or accordion, the violin tunes to it. ) The other strings are then tuned against each other in intervals of perfect fifths by bowing them in pairs. A minutely higher tuning is sometimes employed for solo playing to give the instrument a brighter sound; conversely, Baroque music is sometimes played using lower tunings to make the violin's sound more gentle. After tuning, the instrument's bridge may be examined to ensure that it is standing straight and centered between the inner nicks of the f-holes; a crooked bridge may significantly affect the sound of an otherwise well-made violin. A sound hole is an opening in the upper Sounding board of a stringed Musical instrument.

The tuning G-D-A-E is used for most violin music. Other tunings are occasionally employed; the G string, for example, can be tuned up to A. The use of nonstandard tunings in classical music is known as scordatura; in some folk styles, it is called "cross-tuning. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music A scordatura (literally Italian for "mistuning" also called cross-tuning, is an alternative Tuning used for the open strings of a String " One famous example of scordatura in classical music is Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, where the solo violin's E string is tuned down to E flat to impart an eerie dissonance to the composition. Danse Macabre (first performed in 1875) is the name of opus 40 by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Another example would be in the third movement of Contrasts, by Béla Bartók, where the E string is tuned down to E flat and the G tuned to a G sharp. Béla Viktor János Bartók (March 25 1881&ndashSeptember 26 1945 was a Hungarian Composer and Pianist, considered to be one of the greatest

While most violins have four strings, there are some instruments with five strings,[10] six, or even seven. The Five string violin is a descendant of the traditional four string Violin. The extra strings on such violins typically are lower in pitch than the G-string; these strings are usually tuned to C, F, and B flat. If the instrument's playing length, or string length from nut to bridge, is equal to that of an ordinary full-scale violin i. e. , a bit less than 13 inches (330 mm), then it may be properly termed a violin. Some such instruments are somewhat longer and should be regarded as violas. Violins with five strings or more are often used in jazz or folk music.

Bows

For more information, see Violin Construction (Bow) and Bow (music)
Bow frogs, top to bottom: violin, viola, cello
Bow frogs, top to bottom: violin, viola, cello

A violin is usually played using a bow consisting of a stick with a ribbon of horsehair strung between the tip and frog (or nut, or heel) at opposite ends. A Violin consists of a body or corpus a neck a bridge, a soundpost four strings, and various fittings In Music, a bow is moved across some part of a Musical instrument, causing Vibration which the instrument emits as Sound. In Music, a bow is moved across some part of a Musical instrument, causing Vibration which the instrument emits as Sound. A typical violin bow may be 75 cm (29 inches) overall, and weigh about 60 g (2 oz). Viola bows may be about 5 mm (3/16") shorter and 10 g (1/3 oz) heavier.

At the frog end, a screw adjuster tightens or loosens the hair. Just forward of the frog, a leather thumb cushion and winding protect the stick and provide grip for the player's hand. The winding may be wire, silk, or whalebone (now imitated by alternating strips of yellow and black plastic. ) Some student bows (particularly the ones made of solid fiberglass) substitute a plastic sleeve for grip and winding.

The hair of the bow traditionally comes from the tail of a "white" (technically, a grey) male horse, although some cheaper bows use synthetic fiber. Occasional rubbing with rosin makes the hair grip the strings intermittently, causing them to vibrate. Rosin, formerly called colophony or Greek pitch ( Pix græca) is a solid form of Resin obtained from Pines and some other Plants The stick is traditionally made of brazilwood, although a stick made from this type of wood which is of a more select quality (and higher price) is referred to as pernambuco (both types are taken from the same tree species). Brazilwood or Pau-Brasil, sometimes known as Pernambuco ( Caesalpinia echinata Syn Some student bows are made of fiberglass or various cheap woods. Recent innovations have allowed carbon fiber to be used as a material for the stick at all levels of craftsmanship.

Playing

Main article: Playing the violin

The standard way of holding the violin is with the left side of the jaw resting on the chinrest of the violin, and supported by the left shoulder, often assisted by a shoulder rest. Playing the violin entails holding the instrument under the chin supported by the left shoulder (see below for variations of this posture The shoulder rest is an accessory that can be found on Violins and Violas It may be made of wood aluminium Carbon fiber or plastic This practice varies in some cultures; for instance, Indian (Carnatic and Hindustani) violinists play seated on the floor and rest the scroll of the instrument on the side of their foot. Carnatic music (also spelled Karnatak music or Karnatik music, and originally called Karṇāṭaka sangīta or Karṇāṭaka sangītam in India Hindustani Classical Music ( Hindi: हिन्दुस्तानी शास्त्रीय संगीत Urdu: ہندوستانی شاستریے سنگیت The strings may be sounded by drawing the hair of the bow across them (arco) or by plucking them (pizzicato). Pizzicato (ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a String instrument. The left hand regulates the sounding length of the string by stopping it against the fingerboard with the fingertips, producing different pitches.

First Position Fingerings
First Position Fingerings

Left hand and pitch production

As the violin has no frets to stop the strings, the player must know exactly where to place the fingers on the strings to play with good intonation. A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a Stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck Intonation, in Music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument Through practice and ear training, the violinist's left hand finds the notes intuitively by muscle memory. Beginners sometimes rely on tapes placed on the fingerboard for proper left hand finger placement, but usually abandon the tapes quickly as they advance. Proprioception (ˌproʊpriːəˈsɛpʃən PRO -pree-o-SEP-shun from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own" and perception is the Sense Adhesive tape can be one of many varieties of backing materials coated with an Adhesive. Another commonly-used marking technique uses dots of white-out on the fingerboard, which wear off in a few weeks of regular practice. A correction fluid is an opaque white fluid applied to paper to mask errors in text This practice, unfortunately, is used sometimes in lieu of adequate ear-training, guiding the placement of fingers by eye and not by ear. Especially in the early stages of learning to play, the so-called "ringing tones" are useful. There are nine such notes in first position, where a stopped note sounds a unison or octave with another (open) string, causing it to vibrate sympathetically. Acoustic resonance is the tendency of an acoustic system to absorb more energy when the Frequency of its oscillations matches the system's natural frequency of vibration

The fingers are conventionally numbered 1 (index) through 4 (little finger). Especially in instructional editions of violin music, numbers over the notes may indicate which finger to use, with "0" indicating "open" string. The chart to the left shows the arrangement of notes reachable in first position. Not shown on this chart is the way the spacing between note positions becomes closer as the fingers move up (in pitch) from the nut. The bars at the sides of the chart represent three of the usual tape placements for beginners, at 1st, high 2nd, and 3rd fingers.

Positions

The placement of the left hand on the fingerboard is characterized by "positions". First position, where most beginners start (although some methods start in third position), is the most commonly used position in string music. The lowest note available in this position in standard tuning is an open G; the highest note in first position is played with the fourth finger on the E-string, sounding a B, or reaching up a half step (also known as the "extended fourth finger") to the C two octaves above middle C. C or Do is the first Note of the fixed-Do Solfege. In Western Music, the expression " Middle C " refers to the note

Moving the hand up the neck, so the first finger takes the place of the second finger, brings the player into second position. Letting the first finger take the first-position place of the third finger brings the player to third position, and so on. The upper limit of the violin's range is largely determined by the skill of the player, who may easily play more than two octaves on a single string, and four octaves on the instrument as a whole, although when a violinist has progressed to the point of being able to use the entire range of the instrument, references to particular positions become less common. Position names are mostly used for the lower positions and in method books; for this reason, it is uncommon to hear references to anything higher than fifth position. The lowest position on a violin is half-position, where the first finger is a half-step away from the nut. This position is less frequently used. The highest position, practically speaking, is 15th position.

The same note will sound substantially different, depending on what string is used to play it. Sometimes the composer or arranger will specify the string to be used in order to achieve the desired tone quality; this is indicated in the music by the marking, for example, sul G, meaning to play on the G string. In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different For example, playing very high up on the lower strings gives a distinctive quality to the sound. Otherwise, moving into different positions is usually done for ease of playing.

Audio sample
Violin sounds and techniques: 566 KB (help·info)
  • Open strings (arco and pizzicato)
  • A major scale (arco and pizzicato)
  • Beginning of an A major scale with vibrato
  • A major scale played col legno
  • Natural harmonics of an A, E, and an A
  • Artificial (false) harmonic of A7
  • Harmonic glissando on the A string
See the Violins category at Wikipedia Commons for more media

Open strings

Bowing or plucking an open string—that is, a string played without any finger stopping it—gives a different sound from a stopped string, since the string vibrates more freely at the nut than under a finger. Other than the low G (which can be played in no other way), open strings are generally avoided in some styles of classical playing. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music This is because they have a somewhat harsher sound (especially open E) and it is not possible to directly use vibrato on an open string. However, this can be partially compensated by applying vibrato on a note that is an octave higher than the open string.

In some cases playing an open string is called for by the composer (and explicitly marked in the music) for special effect, decided upon by the musician for artistic reasons (common in earlier works such as Bach), or played in a fast passage, where they usually cannot be distinguished.

Playing an open string simultaneously with a stopped note on an adjacent string produces a bagpipe-like drone, often used by composers in imitation of folk music. Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Sometimes the two notes are identical (for instance, playing a fingered A on the D string against the open A string), giving a ringing sort of "fiddling" sound. Playing an open string simultaneously with an identical stopped note can also be called for when more volume is required, especially in orchestral playing.

Double stops and drones

Double stopping is when two separate strings are stopped by the fingers, and bowed simultaneously, producing a chord. A double stop, in music terminology, is the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument (like a Marimba) or stringed This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles Sometimes moving to a higher position is necessary for the left hand to be able to reach both notes at once. Sounding an open string alongside a fingered note is another way to get a partial chord. While sometimes also called a double stop, it is more properly called a drone, as the drone note may be sustained for a passage of different notes played on the adjacent string. Sustain is a Parameter of Musical Sound in Time. As its name may imply it denotes the period of time during which the sound is sustained before Three or four notes can also be played at one time (triple and quadruple stops, respectively), and, according to the style of music, the notes might all be played simultaneously or might be played as two successive double stops, favoring the higher notes. Playing the notes simultaneously is done by applying more pressure to the bow and/or bowing closer to the fingerboard.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a technique of the left hand and arm in which the pitch of a note varies in a pulsating rhythm. Vibrato is a musical effect produced in singing and on musical instruments by a regular pulsating change of pitch, and is used to add expression and vocal-like qualities to While various parts of the hand or arm may be involved in the motion, the end result is a movement of the fingertip bringing about a slight change in vibrating string length. Violinists oscillate backwards, or lower in pitch from the actual note when using vibrato, since perception favors the highest pitch in a varying sound. Vibrato does little, if anything, to disguise an out-of-tune note: in other words, vibrato is a poor substitute for good intonation. Still, scales and other exercises meant to work on intonation are typically played without vibrato to make the work easier and more effective. Music students are taught that unless otherwise marked in music, vibrato is assumed or even mandatory. This can be an obstacle to a classically-trained violinist wishing to play in a style that uses little or no vibrato at all, such as baroque music played in period style and many traditional fiddling styles.

Vibrato can be produced by a proper combination of finger, wrist and arm motions. One method, called "hand vibrato," involves rocking the hand back at the wrist to achieve oscillation, while another method, "arm vibrato," modulates the pitch by rocking at the elbow. A combination of these techniques allows a player to produce a large variety of tonal effects.

The "when" and "what for" of violin vibrato are artistic matters of style and taste. Vibrato is a musical effect produced in singing and on musical instruments by a regular pulsating change of pitch, and is used to add expression and vocal-like qualities to In acoustical terms, the interest that vibrato adds to the sound has to do with the way that the overtone mix (or tone color, or timbre) and the directional pattern of sound projection change with changes in pitch. By "pointing" the sound at different parts of the room in a rhythmic way, vibrato adds a "shimmer" or "liveliness" to the sound of a well-made violin. See Schleske and Weinreich.

Harmonics

Lightly touching the string with a fingertip at a harmonic node creates harmonics. A node is a point along a Standing wave where the wave has minimal Amplitude. In Acoustics and Telecommunication, the harmonic of a Wave is a component Frequency of the signal that is an Integer Instead of the normal tone, a higher pitched note sounds. Each node is at an integer division of the string, for example half-way or one-third along the length of the string. A responsive instrument will sound numerous possible harmonic nodes along the length of the string.

Harmonics are marked in music either with a little circle above the note that determines the pitch of the harmonic, or by diamond-shaped note heads. There are two types of harmonics: natural harmonics and artificial harmonics (also known as "false harmonics"). To produce an artificial harmonic, a Stringed instrument player holds down a note on the neck with the left or right (left if one is right-handed or right if one is left-handed

Natural harmonics are played on an open string. The pitch of the open string is called the fundamental frequency. Harmonics are also called overtones. They occur at whole-number multiples of the fundamental, which is called the first harmonic. The second harmonic is the first overtone, the third harmonic is the second overtone, and so on. An overtone is a natural resonance or vibration frequency of a system The second harmonic is in the middle of the string and sounds an octave higher than the string's pitch. The third harmonic breaks the string into thirds and sounds an octave and a fifth above the fundamental, and the fourth harmonic breaks the string into quarters sounding two octaves above the first. The sound of the second harmonic is the clearest of them all, because it is a common node with all the succeeding even-numbered harmonics (4th, 6th, etc. A node is a point along a Standing wave where the wave has minimal Amplitude. ). The third and succeeding odd-numbered harmonics are harder to play because they break the string into an odd number of vibrating parts and don't share as many nodes with other harmonics.

Artificial harmonics are more difficult to produce than natural harmonics, as they involve both stopping the string and playing a harmonic on the stopped note. Using the "octave frame"—the normal distance between the first and fourth fingers in any given position—with the fourth finger just touching the string a fourth higher than the stopped note produces the fourth harmonic, two octaves above the stopped note. In Music theory, the term interval describes the relationship between the pitches of two Notes Intervals may be described as vertical Finger placement and pressure, as well as bow speed, pressure, and sounding point are all essential in getting the desired harmonic to sound. And to add to the challenge, in passages with different notes played as false harmonics, the distance between stopping finger and harmonic finger must constantly change, since the spacing between notes changes along the length of the string.

The "harmonic finger" can also touch at a major third above the pressed note (the fifth harmonic), or a fifth higher (a third harmonic). In Music theory, the term interval describes the relationship between the pitches of two Notes Intervals may be described as vertical In Music theory, the term interval describes the relationship between the pitches of two Notes Intervals may be described as vertical These harmonics are less commonly used; in the case of the major third, both the stopped note and touched note must be played slightly sharp otherwise the harmonic does not speak as readily. In the case of the fifth, the stretch is greater than is comfortable for many violinists. In the general repertoire fractions smaller than a sixth are not used. However, divisions up to an eighth are sometimes used and, given a good instrument and a skilled player, divisions as small as a twelfth are possible.

There are a few books dedicated solely to the study of violin harmonics. Two comprehensive works are Henryk Heller's seven-volume Theory of Harmonics, published by Simrock in 1928, and Michelangelo Abbado's five-volume Tecnica dei suoni armonici published by Ricordi in 1934.

Elaborate passages in artificial harmonics can be found in virtuoso violin literature, especially of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Two notable examples of this are an entire section of Vittorio Monti's Csárdás and a passage towards the middle of the third movement of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Vittorio Monti ( 6 January 1868 – 20 June 1922) was an Italian Composer, Violinist and conductor. Csárdás (ˈt͡ʃaːrdaːʃ " char -dash" is a traditional Hungarian Folk dance. A violin concerto is a Concerto for solo Violin (occasionally two or more violins and instrumental ensemble customarily Orchestra.

Right hand and tone color

The right arm, hand, and bow are responsible for tone quality, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, and most (but not all) changes in timbre. Rhythm (from Greek ῥυθμός - rhythmos, "any measured flow or movement symmetry" is the variation of the length and accentuation of In Music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a Sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece either stylistic In Music, articulation refers to the direction or performance technique which affects the transition or continuity on single note or between multiple notes or In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different

Bowing techniques

The most essential part of bowing technique is the bow grip. It is usually with the thumb bent in the small area between the frog and the winding of the bow. The other fingers are spread somewhat evenly across the top part of the bow.

The violin produces louder notes with greater bow speed or more weight on the string. The two methods are not equivalent, because they produce different timbres; pressing down on the string tends to produce a harsher, more intense sound.

The sounding point where the bow intersects the string also influences timbre. Playing close to the bridge (sul ponticello) gives a more intense sound than usual, emphasizing the higher harmonics; and playing with the bow over the end of the fingerboard (sul tasto) makes for a delicate, ethereal sound, emphasizing the fundamental frequency. The fundamental tone, often referred to simply as the fundamental and abbreviated fo, is the lowest frequency in a harmonic series. Dr. Suzuki referred to the sounding point as the "Kreisler highway"; one may think of different sounding points as "lanes" in the highway. Shin'ichi Suzuki (鈴木 鎮一 Suzuki Shin'ichi October 17, 1898 - January 26, 1998) was the creator of the international Fritz Kreisler ( February 2, 1875 &ndash January 29, 1962) was an Austria -born American Violinist and

Various methods of 'attack' with the bow produce different articulations. Playing the violin entails holding the instrument under the chin supported by the left shoulder (see below for variations of this posture There are many bowing techniques that allow for every range of playing style and many teachers, players, and orchestras spend a lot of time developing techniques and creating a unified technique within the group. These techniques include legato-style bowing, collé, ricochet, sautillé, martelé, spiccato, and staccato. Martelé (French Italian martellato) literally "hammered" is a bowstroke used when playing bowed string instruments where the bow is lifted off the string then Spiccato is a bowing technique for Stringed instruments in which the bow bounces lightly upon the string

Pizzicato

A note marked pizz. (abbreviation for pizzicato) in the written music is to be played by plucking the string with a finger of the right hand rather than by bowing. Pizzicato (ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a String instrument. (The index finger is most commonly used here. ) Sometimes in virtuoso solo music where the bow hand is occupied (or for show-off effect), left-hand pizzicato will be indicated by a "+" (plus sign) below or above the note. In left-hand pizzicato, two fingers are put on the string; one (usually the index or middle finger) is put on the correct note, and the other (usually the ring finger or little finger) is put above the note. The higher finger then plucks the string while the lower one stays on, thus producing the correct pitch. By increasing the force of the pluck, one can increase the volume of the note that the string produces.

Col legno

A marking of col legno (Italian for "with the wood") in the written music calls for striking the string(s) with the stick of the bow, rather than by drawing the hair of the bow across the strings. A marking of col legno, or more precisely col legno battuto ( Italian for "hit with the wood" is an instruction in written music to strike the string of Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. This bowing technique is somewhat rarely used, and results in a muted percussive sound. The eerie quality of a violin section playing col legno is exploited in some symphonic pieces, notably the "Witches' Dance" of the last movement of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. An Episode in the Life of the Artist Opus 14 usually referred to by its subtitle Symphonie fantastique ( Fantasy Symphony) is Saint-Saens' symphonic poem "Danse Macabre" includes the string section using the col legno technique to imitate the sound of dancing skeletons. Some violinists, however, object to this style of playing as it can damage the finish and impair the value of a fine bow.

Martelé

Literally "hammered", a strongly accented effect produced by releasing each bowstroke forcefully and suddenly. Martelé can be played in any part of the bow. It is sometimes indicated in written music by an arrowhead.

Tremolo

Very rapid repetition (typically of a single note, but occasionally of multiple notes), usually played at the tip of the bow.

Mute

Attaching a small metal, rubber, or wooden device called a "mute" to the bridge of the violin gives a softer, more mellow tone, with fewer audible overtones; the sound of an entire orchestral string section playing with mutes has a hushed quality. A mute is a device fitted to a Musical instrument to alter the sound produced by affecting the Timbre, reducing the volume or most commonly both An overtone is a natural resonance or vibration frequency of a system The conventional Italian markings for mute usage are con sord. , or con sordina, "with mute", and senza sord. , "without mute" or via sord. , "mute out. " Larger metal, rubber, or wooden mutes are available, known as "practice mutes" or "hotel mutes". Such mutes are generally not used in performance, but are used to deaden the sound of the violin in practice areas such as hotel rooms. Some composers have used practice mutes for special effect, for example at the end of Luciano Berio's Sequenza VIII for solo violin.

Musical styles

Main article: Musical styles (violin)

Classical music

[[http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/qmc/research/qmc00303r.jpg

History of the Violin, courtesy of Picture Australia]]

Since the Baroque era the violin has been one of the most important of all instruments in classical music, for several reasons. Classical music Since the Baroque era the violin ( Baroque violin) has been one of the most important of all instruments in classical music, for several Baroque music describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music The tone of the violin stands out above other instruments, making it appropriate for playing a melody line. In the hands of a good player, the violin is extremely agile, and can execute rapid and difficult sequences of notes.

Violins make up a large part of an orchestra, and are usually divided into two sections, known as the first and second violins. An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well Composers often assign the melody to the first violins, while second violins play harmony, accompaniment patterns or the melody an octave lower than the first violins. A string quartet similarly has parts for first and second violins, as well as a viola part, and a bass instrument, such as the cello or, rarely, the double bass. A string quartet is a Musical ensemble of four String instruments &mdash usually two Violins a Viola and Cello &mdash or a piece The viola is a bowed String instrument. It is the middle voice of the Violin family, The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra.

String instruments have the ability to play in any pitch which, in the hands of great players, leads to wonderful range of harmonic colouring, making it possible for the instruments to be very expressive. This ability is at its finest in the string quartet literature where seamless changes from key to key and chord to chord create a kind of perfect harmonic world where even thirds ring with full resonance.

Jazz

The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. The first great jazz violinist was Joe Venuti who is best known for his work with guitarist Eddie Lang during the 1920s. Giuseppe (Joe Venuti ( September 16 1903 &ndash August 14, 1978) was a U Eddie Lang ( October 25, 1902 &ndash March 26, 1933) was an American Jazz Guitarist, considered by many to be the finest Since that time there have been many superb improvising violinists including Stéphane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, John Blake and Jean-Luc Ponty. Stéphane Grappelli ( January 26 1908 &ndash December 1 1997) was a French Jazz Violinist who founded the Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith ( August 14, 1909 - September 25, 1967) better known as Stuff Smith, was a Jazz Violinist Regina Carter (born August 6 1966) is an American Jazz Violinist Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began Johnny Frigo ( December 27, 1916 – July 4, 2007) was an American Jazz Violinist and Bassist. John Blake Jr (b South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1947) is an American Jazz Violinist He has performed Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942, Avranches, France) is a virtuoso French Violinist and Jazz Composer While not primarily jazz violinists, Darol Anger and Mark O'Connor have spent significant parts of their careers playing jazz. Darol Anger is an American Violinist born in 1953 Career Darol Anger played fiddle to David Grisman 's mandolin in The David Grisman Mark O'Connor (born August 5, 1961 in Seattle, Washington) is a widely known professional Fiddler, prominent in Country music

Violins also appear in ensembles supplying orchestral backgrounds to many jazz recordings.

For a more complete list, see jazz violinists. The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century

Popular music

Up to the 1970s, most types of popular music used bowed strings. The hugely popular Motown recordings of the 1960s and 1970s relied heavily on strings as part of their trademark texture. "Motown" redirects here For the city see Detroit Michigan. Earlier genres of pop music, at least those separate from the rock and roll movement, tended to make use of fairly traditional orchestras, sometimes large ones; examples include the American "Crooners" such as Bing Crosby. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African This carried through into 1970s disco music such as I will survive by Gloria Gaynor and Love's theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra. Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define Gloria Gaynor (born Gloria Fowles September 7, 1949) is an American singer best-known for the Disco era hits " I Will Survive Barry Eugene White (born Barrence Eugene Carter, &ndash) was an American Record producer, Songwriter and Singer.

The rise of electronically created music in the 1980s saw a decline in their use, as synthesized string sections took their place. Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production However, while the violin has very little usage in rock music it has some history in progressive rock (e. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved g. The Electric Light Orchestra, King Crimson, Kansas) and has a stronger place in modern fusion bands, notably The Corrs. King Crimson is a Progressive rock band founded by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969 Kansas is an American Progressive rock band which became a popular Arena rock group in the 1970s with hit singles such as " Carry On Wayward The Corrs are a Celtic Folk rock group from Dundalk, County Louth Ireland. The fiddle has also always been a part of British folk-rock music, as exemplified by the likes of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Electric folk is a genre of music in which British and Celtic Traditional music is played in a Rock music style Steeleye Span is a British Electric folk band formed in 1969 and remaining active today

Indian and Arabic pop music is filled with the sound of violins, both soloists and ensembles. Indian pop music often known as Indian-Pop, Hindi Pop or Indipop, is based on an amalgamation of Indian folk and classical music and modern beats from different Arabic pop music or Arab pop is a Subgenre of Pop music and Arabic music.

In the 1990s and 2000s, violins began to appear more often in rock. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Yellowcard even featured the instrument with a role equal to the guitar in many of their songs. Yellowcard is a Pop punk band from Jacksonville Florida. Their music features a rare contribution to the genre incorporating the use of a Violin. Smashing Pumpkins are well-known for their violin-based sections, and James' Saul Davies, who is also a guitarist, was enlisted by the band as a violinist. The Smashing Pumpkins are an American Alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988 James are an English rock band from Manchester. They formed in 1981 and were active throughout the 80s but most successful during the 90s The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles

Independent artists such as Owen Pallet and Andrew Bird have also spurred increased interest in the instrument. Indie bands have often embraced new and unusual arrangements, allowing them more freedom to feature the violin than their mainstream brethren. In Popular music, independent music, often abbreviated as indie, is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels and an autonomous Mainstream is generally the common current of Thought of the Majority. It has been used in the post-rock genre by bands such as Sigur Rós, Zox, Broken Social Scene, and A Silver Mt. Zion. Sigur Rós ( are an Icelandic Post-rock band with melodic classical and minimalist elements ZOX is a band from Providence Rhode Island that is self-described as " Violin -laced Reggae rock. Broken Social Scene are a Juno Award winning Canadian Indie rock supergroup, a Musical collective currently including nineteen Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band (also known as A Silver Mt The electric violin has even been used by bands like The Crüxshadows within the context of keyboard based music. An electric violin is a Violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound The Crüxshadows (pronounced as ˈkruʃædoʊz is an Independent music group from Florida.

The popularity of crossover music beginning in the last years of the 20th century has brought the violin back into the popular music arena, with both electric and acoustic violins being used by popular bands. Crossover is a term applied to Musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the Record charts which track differing musical tastes or genres

Indian classical music

Main article: Carnatic Violin

The violin is a very important part of South Indian classical music (Karnatic music). The violin is a bowed String instrument with four strings usually tuned in Perfect fifths It is the smallest and highest-pitched member Carnatic music (also spelled Karnatak music or Karnatik music, and originally called Karṇāṭaka sangīta or Karṇāṭaka sangītam in India It is believed to have been introduced to the South Indian tradition by Baluswamy Dikshitar. Though primarily used as an accompaniment instrument, the violin has become popular as a solo instrument in the orchestration. Popular film composers such as Ilaiyaraaja have used the violin extensively in film music scoring. ( Tamil: இளையராஜா ɪləjəɹɑːdʒɑː (born June 2, 1943 as Gnanadesikan) is an Indian Film composer, singer

See also: Indian classical musical style and Indian violinists (including Karnatic and Hindustani)

Folk music and fiddling

Hins-Anders painted by Anders Zorn, 1904
Hins-Anders painted by Anders Zorn, 1904

Like many other instruments used in classical music, the violin descends from remote ancestors that were used for folk music. Classical music Since the Baroque era the violin ( Baroque violin) has been one of the most important of all instruments in classical music, for several The following lists of violinists are available List of classical violinists, names of great violinist from baroque era till 20th century Anders Leonard Zorn ( February 18, 1860 – August 22, 1920) was a Swedish painter sculptor and Printmaker in Etching Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Following a stage of intensive development in the late Renaissance, largely in Italy, the violin had improved (in volume, tone, and agility), to the point that it not only became a very important instrument in art music, but proved highly appealing to folk musicians as well, ultimately spreading very widely, sometimes displacing earlier bowed instruments. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Ethnomusicologists have observed its widespread use in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This article is about the concept For the society and academic journal see Society for Ethnomusicology.

In many traditions of folk music, the tunes are not written but are memorized by successive generations of musicians and passed on, in what is known as the oral tradition. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Oral tradition, oral culture and oral lore is a way for a society to transmit history, literature, law and other Knowledges

Fiddle

Main article: Fiddle

When played as a folk instrument, the violin is ordinarily referred to in English as a fiddle (though the term "fiddle" may be used informally no matter what the genre of music).

There is technically no difference between a fiddle and a violin. However, some folk fiddlers alter their instruments for various reasons. One example may be seen in American (e. g. , bluegrass and old-time) fiddling: in these styles, the bridge is sometimes shaved down so that it is less curved. Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. Old-time music is a form of North American Folk music, with roots in the Folk musics of many countries including England, Scotland, This makes it easier to play double stops and triple stops, allowing one to play chords with less effort. A double stop, in music terminology, is the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument (like a Marimba) or stringed A double stop, in music terminology, is the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument (like a Marimba) or stringed This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles In addition, many fiddle players prefer to use a tailpiece with fine tuners on all four strings instead of only using one on the E string as many classical players do. The tailpiece, found on many Musical instruments of the String instrument family anchors the tail end of the strings the end opposite the scroll or

Electric violins

Main article: Electric violin
acoustic and electric violin
acoustic and electric violin

An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electric signal output of its sound, and is generally considered to be a specially constructed instrument which can either be:

To be effective as an acoustic violin, electro-acoustic violins retain much of the resonating body of the violin, often looking very much like, sometimes even identical to, an acoustic violin or fiddle. An electric violin is a Violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound They are often varnished with bright colours and made from alternative materials to wood. The first specially built electric violins date back to the late 1930s and were made by Victor Pfeil, Oskar Vierling, George Eisenberg, Benjamin Miessner, George Beauchamp, Hugo Benioff and Fredray Kislingbury. An electric violin is a Violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound George D Beauchamp (1899 &ndash 1941 inventor of musical instruments and co-founder of National Stringed Instrument Corporation and Rickenbacker. Hugo Benioff (1899-1968 was a Seismologist and a Professor at the California Institute of Technology. The majority of the first electric violinists were musicians playing jazz and popular music. An electric violin is a Violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound

Violin authentication

Main article: Violin authentication

Violin authentication is the process of determining the maker and date of a violin. Violin authentication is the process of determining the maker and date of a Violin. Multiple references may be required to assist in the process of authentication. This is often employed to combat fraudulent practices such as violin forgery and other forms of misrepresentation.

See also

For instruments related to the violin, see String instruments. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ The Silk Road: Connecting Cultures, Creating Trust, Silk Road Story 2: Bowed Instruments. Smithsonian Center for Folk life and Cultural Heritage.
  3. ^ The NPR Classical Music Companion: Terms and Concepts from A to Z.
  4. ^ Arkenberg, Rebecca (October 2002). Renaissance Violins. Retrieved on 2006-09-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians
  5. ^ Deverich, Robin Kay (2006). Historical Background of the Violin. Retrieved on 2006-09-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians
  6. ^ Bartruff, William. The History of the Violin. Retrieved on 2006-09-22. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians
  7. ^ Violin by Antonio Stradivari, 1716 (Messiah; la Messie, Salabue). Cozio. com.
  8. ^ Richard Perras. Violin changes by 1800. Retrieved on 2006-10-29. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II
  9. ^ Ebony.
  10. ^ 2000 Silakowski 5-String. Casey Driessen (personal web site).

External links

Tomography is imaging by sections or sectioning A device used in tomography is called a tomograph, while the image produced is a tomogram. Dendrochronology (from Greek grc δένδρον dendron, "tree" grc χρόνος khronos, "time" and grc -λογία

Dictionary

violin

-noun

  1. (music) A musical four-string instrument, generally played with a bow or by plucking the string. Pitch is set by pressing the strings at the appropriate place with the fingers.
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