Brief History of Violins

The violin is the smallest in size of all the stringed instruments. This compact size also gives the violin the highest pitch of the string family of instruments, with the viola and cello both having a lower tone. Almost any musical style can be played on the violin, from classical to jazz to rock.

The first violin is believed to have been created in 1555 by Andrea Amati, but this date cannot be verified. What is known is that the violin become popular right away, especially among street musicians because of its light weight and small size. Turkish and Mongolian horsemen from Inner Asia are thought to have been the first fiddlers in the world's history. They used two-stringed fiddles with horsehair strings, but the fiddles were generally held upright instead of on the musician's shoulder. The modern-day violin has its origins in 16th century Italy. Several modifications were made in 18th century, leading to the variations we see today. A heavier bass bar was added and the neck angle was adjusted several times.

Most violins are constructed of some type of wood and are strung with either steel, gut, or synthetic strings. There are also electric violins that may not be made out of wood because the tone is not as vibrant. The top is generally made out of spruce, with maple being used for the ribs and back. The neck, end blocks, bridge, and four strings fill out the rest of the violin's parts. Additional modifications may be made to the instrument, including a chin rest that can be attached to the tailpiece for extra comfort while playing.

The violin has a definitely hourglass shape and an arched back and top. The shape of a violin determines its sound, along with the type of wood used in construction. 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.

Maple wood is generally used for the neck, and sometimes the ribs and back. The best fingerboards are made from ebony, with other woods being used for lower-priced violins. Ebony works well for violin construction because it is extremely hard and durable, while still looking stylish. If other wood is used, it is usually painted or stained black to approximate the look of ebony. Fingerboards are designed with a certain level of curve, which is typically more obvious on the lower strings.

The bridge is also usually constructed out of maple and anchors the bottom of the strings to the body of the violin. The top curve holds the strings at the proper distance from the fingerboard so that each note can be struck separately and cleanly with the bow. The sound post fits into the violin between the back and top to support the treble foot of the bridge. This piece also transmits the vibrations between the top and the back of the violin.

Photo Credits: 1

VIOLIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CRYSTAL NECKLACE WHITE GOLD

VIOLIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CRYSTAL NECKLACE WHITE GOLD

US $10.95
Sale
Antique Musical Instrument Pin Violin Mother of pearl

Antique Musical Instrument Pin Violin Mother of pearl

US $7.00
Sale
VIOLIN MINIATURE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

VIOLIN MINIATURE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

US $20.00
Sale
VIOLIN MINIATURE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 1 4 INCHES

VIOLIN MINIATURE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 1 4 INCHES

US $12.50
Sale
Crystal musical instrument VIOLIN gold tone BROOCH XMAS

Crystal musical instrument VIOLIN gold tone BROOCH XMAS

US $17.99
Sale
How to Build Musical Instruments Violin Guitar Banjo

How to Build Musical Instruments Violin Guitar Banjo

US $9.99
Sale
Violin w Music Case Stand Miniature Musical Instrument

Violin w Music Case Stand Miniature Musical Instrument

US $15.50
Sale
Violin Pin Pin w Instrument Case Musical Gift NEW

Violin Pin Pin w Instrument Case Musical Gift NEW

US $9.99
Sale
VIOLIN SILVER DROP EARRINGS NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

VIOLIN SILVER DROP EARRINGS NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

US $15.18
Sale
wonderful rare musical instrument 4 4 Violin

wonderful rare musical instrument 4 4 Violin

US $.99
Sale

Originally posted 2008-11-25 05:56:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • guitarAcoustic Guitar Basics The first thing you think of when you think about acoustic instruments is likely the acoustic guitar. What most people do not know is that “acoustic guitar” is a retronym. Until electric guitars were invented, they were simply called guitars. The differentiation was necessary upon the invention and adoption of......
  • guitar1What are Acoustic Guitars Made Out Of? There are a number of different materials that are used for the purpose of constructing guitars. Let us take a look at a few of them. Mahogany When this wood is used as a guitar top, it has a low velocity of sound as compared to other woods, good density,......
  • resonatorAcoustic Guitar Basics The first thing you think of when you think about acoustic instruments is likely the acoustic guitar. What most people do not know is that “acoustic guitar” is a retronym. Until electric guitars were invented, they were simply called guitars. The differentiation was necessary upon the invention and adoption of......
  • violinMore Tips on Buying Violins With the vast assortment violins to choose from, buying a new instrument can be quite a challenging endeavor. However, this task can be much easier if you do some research ahead of time. The following are some points to remember when buying a new or used violin. If you are......
  • gusleFiddling Instruments: A Primer pt 4 ... Continued from pt. 3 The Tarhu One of the most significant new developments in the technology behind spike fiddle instruments can be found in the form of the circular bodied instruments known as Tarhu, as they are made by an Australian luthier known as Peter Biffin. With these instruments......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • blog traffic exchangeHow to Stop Horses from Chewing Wood Wood chewing is a common horse problem which not only damages wood but can also injure your horse. The splinters can get stuck in the teeth or gums of the horse. If swallowed, they could puncture the stomach or intestines. Consequently, to protect your horse and your property, one should......
  • doubleThe Double Bass - Then and Now In the modern orchestra, there are a number of stringed instruments that cover a variety of sounds. Highs and lows, the entire spectrum of sound audible to the human can be accessed with stringed instruments. At the lowest end of the spectrum, the double bass, or upright bass, can access......
  • blog traffic exchangeInfo About Drills That Will Be Interesting For You To Find Out Many scientists agree that the most important difference between humans and animals lies in our ability to develop and use various tools. A tool is something that gave people a possibility to do things that would be impossible to do with our hands only. And it is not that hard......
  • The Oresund Bridge - Malmo, SwedenThe Oresund Bridge - Malmo, Sweden [/caption] In Sweden and Denmark the bridge is most often referred to as Öresundsbron and Øresundsbroen, respectively. The bridge company itself insists on Øresundsbron, a compromise between the two languages. This symbolises a common cultural identity for the region, the people becoming "Öresund citizens" once the bridge is established. Since......
  • blog traffic exchangeDisharmony in perfumes I'm enjoying navigating the Le Jardin Retrouvé site. I have babelfish translate a page, if it hasn't been done for me already, or read along in my very rusty French. Disharmony in perfumery written and delivered in 1968 at the Société Technique des Parfumeurs de France by Yuri Gutsatz could......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Acoustic Musical Instruments, Instrument History, Violin



Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment

Enter your email address:


acoustic bass guitar acoustic guitar acoustic guitars acoustic instrument acoustic instruments acoustic music Acoustic Musical Instruments bass instrument blues music bridge classical guitar different styles electric guitar electric guitars fiddles fingerboard finger board fingers fret board guitar strings how to play the guitar index finger intervals jazz music left hand lips little bit mahogany money mouth piece mouthpiece musical instrument musical instruments musician nylon strings peg pitch playing the violin resonator shape stringed instrument stringed instruments styles of music violins woodwind instrument