¶ … History of the Violin
The violin is one of the oldest and most respected instruments that exists today, often considered the centerpiece of the orchestral musical ensemble. The violin is not simply an instrument complex in nature, but also a work of art. Depending on who you consult with, the violin might be considered one, the other or both.
The violin is widely appreciated for the complex sound and it produces and the complex craftsmanship utilized in its construction. The violin is the one instrument that might be considered both a work of art and a musical instrument because of its great complexity. The history and origins of the violin have been disputed by historians and musicians alike for some time.
Though there is evidence to suggest that the modern violin did not surface until the seventeenth or eighteenth century, there are those that argue that the violin is represented as early back as biblical times.
The violin as both a work of art and a musical instrument as well as its complex and often disputed history is explored in greater detail below.
History of the Violin
The violin has been around for centuries, though its exact origins are often debated by musicians and historians alike. Emerging as early as 1500 the violin developed 'officially' during the mid sixteenth century only to take on its characteristic shape during the late seventeenth/early eighteenth century (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998:13). It was during the early eighteenth century that many well noted violin makers surfaced "including Nicolo Amati, Jacob Stainer and Antonio Stradivari" (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998).
Bowed instruments similar to the violin are mentioned in early ancient Greek and Roman texts. Generally Renaissance images portray individuals using instrument similar to the violin. Even in the Old Testament "there is mention of fiddlers and pipers," suggesting that the violin has a pre-history that dates 2000 B.C. Or more (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998).
String players were not uncommon as mentioned among the Greeks and Romans. It wasn't until the eighteenth century however that evidence surfaced suggesting the true violin did not emerge until about the Middle Ages (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998). Johann Tinctoris "refers to the use of a bow in a work entitled De inventione et usu misucae circa 1487" (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998).
Interestingly there is some historical debate about the true origins of the violin. Many historians believe that the violin is basic in nature and thus many early civilizations might have utilized some version of the instrument. What needs to be differentiated is whether stringed instruments of ancient times were 'plucked' or 'bowed' the latter indicating that more of a violin type instrument was utilized.
There is evidence suggesting that in the 12th century stringed instruments were plucked for the most part; despite this other evidence including a written document produced in the seventh century depicts the use of a bow as early as the seventh century (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998).
It wasn't until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that the violin took the center stage and was exploited as much as possible during concertos and within the realm of orchestral excellence (Sternfeld & Wellesz, 1973). In the eighteenth century the emergence of the musical amateur helped popularize the violin even more. Chevalier de Saint Georges was one of the more popular violin virtuosos who used the violin in a manner that drove individuals to symphonies and concerts (Sternfeld & Wellesz, 1973).
One can at best conclude that the violin is many years in coming, and took many years to perfect and be considered the stringed instrument it is today. Depending on one's interpretation of what constitutes a violin, it may have originated as early as biblical times or as late as the eighteenth century.
Violin Construction
Even the construction of the violin is debated. "Hart" suggests according to Kolneder & Pauly that the violin consist of fifty-eight parts, whereas "others including Grillet suggest that there are eighty three" (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998). Why the difference? There are different methods for counting the pieces of a violin. The primary parts of a standard violin include the body, neck, fingerboard and strings which lie across the bridge (Kolneder & Pauly, 1998).
The construction of a violin is considered complex in nature, in part because the sound and tone a violin produces is thought to result in part from the quality of construction. The materials used, craftsmanship and manner in which the piece is formed all may impact its final value and quality (Johnson & Courtnall, 1998).
Sound, Tone and Acoustics
As Kolneder & Pauly (1998) point out it is important...
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