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Know Violin History Today

2017-12-22T01:59:31.0Z

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Know Violin History Today

 

Know Violin History Today

 

Introduction

Musical instruments have existed in one form or another for many thousands of years. There were several stringed instruments made before violins, but some of them are so ancient that modern scholars hardly know anything about them, having only seen them depicted in artwork or written record. The violin, more or less as we know it today, has been with us since the beginning of the 16th century. Those with some knowledge of ancient instruments might remember the Medieval stringed instrument, the rebec, and the Renaissance fiddle. These were the likely inspirations for the very first violins.

The first modern violins started appearing in the 16th century, in Italy. They were stronger than any string instruments that had come before, which gave the new instrument a beautiful singing tone. The violins were still different from ones played today though. The entire violin was shorter and stouter and had gut strings.

 

Know The First Violin Makers

The violin has existed in its current form for long. The first Violin makers were Italians who were influenced by other ancient stringed instruments from around the world.

Some of the violin’s precursors date back several thousand years. The ravanstron, rebec, and Rabab are ancient stringed instruments that were used thousands of years ago. The rote and vielle are instruments that had been invented a long time back, but they looked somewhat similar to modern violins in that they fingerboards that containing strings which players could press to produce different tones. The vielle was probably the instrument most similar to the modern violin; different models had between two and five strings that could be plucked or bowed.

 

Know Andrea Amati who invented violin

The origin of the violin itself goes back to 16th century Italy The master instrument player was Andrea Amati in 1525 and he is the inventor. Later the Italians became prevalent during the 17th century During the 17th century, .

This is not the orginal violin you are seing today. Initially its neck was short, thick and not too curved. Violin”s strings were made of gut, the fingerboard was shorter, and the bridge was flatter. after being invented, it was not very popular among the people.

It was considered to be played by the lower class. Over time, the violin status became more interesting, and people begin to play, especially after a popular violinists played the violin in one of his operas. During the Baroque period, the violin popularity began to grow. Also, by the 17th century, it was mostly a necessity to be played in instrumental ensembles.

 

Although the first actual description of a violin dates back in 1556, there are some paintings from earlier in the century depicting what was often a three-stringed violin.

Andrea Amati, was given the job of developing the violin known today by the family of Medic. It is because of Amati’s origins working with lutes that violin artisans today are still referred to as luthiers. Amati, who emerged the best maker, was commissioned by the Medicis to provide a device that would be suitable for street musicians and yet still have a lute-like quality of sound. His design, incorporating four strings and a slightly vaulted body, became immediately popular. Because of its versatility with street musicians, it quickly became of interest to members of the nobility. Amati himself founded a dynasty of luthiers, and there are still fourteen of his violins known to be in existence today.

Violin Features

Violins are designed to withstand the test of time. They are small and hollow wooden instruments with a long neck and four lines of a string tuned the fifth pitch from each other, from low to high. While there are electric violins that have been built, they have not deviated from this basic design.

Typically made from spruce or maple, the violin’s fingerboard is manufactured from ebony or ivory. Strings in the past were made of gut, but today they are made from different materials, such as metal, nylon perlon, or synthetic core.

The violin has emerged as the forerunner of all musical instruments in Classical music since the Baroque era, and this has not happened by chance. The melodic nature of this instrument is perfect for playing the classical melody lines, and it is very adaptable especially when playing notes in a rapid manner. As well as this, for a Virtuoso, it becomes incredibly expressive which with the addition of Vibrato is unrivaled at delivering an emotional piece of music.

Apart from its classical roots, the violin has a history steeped in traditional folk music and its present-day form, has largely swept away all of the early cruder models. Traditionally, folk music was not written but passed around and down through the years by word of mouth. When the violin is used as a friend instrument, it is invariably referred to as a Fiddle which can lead to confusion. The only technical difference between Fiddle and Violin is the way that the bridge is set up, with the classical violin being rounder than the fiddle. Fiddle players like a flatter bridge which enable them to play double stops and shuffles, which involves playing two strings at once.

The modern violin while not changing that much over the years, has a wealth of history and with the development of the electric version, and new techniques of using tonnes by amplification; the instrument is alive and healthy with a new generation every bit as enthusiastic about learning to play it as their forefathers.

In fact, violins from Andrea Amati, dating back to 1564, are still in existence. In the 18th century, a man named Antonio Stradivari finally built a violin that became the basis from which all violin models today are formed.

 

How violin was used during the Baroque era

The violin has been a standout amongst the most critical of other instruments in traditional music, for many reasons. Its tone emerges above different instruments, making it proper for playing a song line. The violin was to a great degree light-footed and could execute quick and troublesome arrangements of notes for a decent player.

 

Folk music

In the same way as other different instruments of traditional music, the violin slides from remote predecessors, cruder in shape, that were utilized for folk music. Taking after a phase of serious advancement, to a great extent the violin had enhancedto an extent that it not just turned into an imperative instrument in workmanship music however demonstrated very engaging society artists too.

In numerous conventions of society music, the tunes were not composed but rather were retained by progressive generations of performers and went through in what is called the oral tradition.

 

Fiddle

The violin is normally alluded to as a fiddle in English at the point it is played as a people instrument,

In that styles, the scaffold is once in a while shaved down with the goal that it is marginally less bended. This diminishes the scope of movement required for rearrange bowings which interchange between sets of strings.

There is frequently just a solitary playing at a given setting, albeit twin fiddling was spoken to in a few styles. By difference, violins frequently play in segments – several people playing a similar instrument, normally in an ensemble symphony – since sound support was just conceivable by including more instruments.

 

Conclusion

This beautiful and graceful stringed instrument with its ancient beginnings is still being played today, from concert violinists stroking their bows across priceless Stradivarius to beginners plucking the strings of rented instruments while taking online violin lessons. Know all about violin today for you.

 

Keep reading: “Why learn scales on violin?”>>

Read on: “5 Ways to Sneak Violin Practice into Your Busy Schedule”>>


For more questions, contact us at info@willanacademy.com or 646-838-3990. Willan Academy of Music offers piano lessons, guitar lessons, and more in NYC, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

The post Know Violin History Today appeared first on Willan Academy Of Music.

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