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Violin
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 HistoryAfter the bow was applied to the lute in the 10th century, not many more changes were made until the 1300's. Characteristics began to appear in the viole. The viole was a guitar-fiddle which was both bowed and plucked. It was modified by cutting in the sides. The medieval fiddle called a rebec and the lira do braccio each had been made with four strings around 1550. They also developed lateral pegs, a waisted body, and f shaped sound holes. These improvements are still similar in structure today. People began making bowed instruments corresponding to voices at this time. The ancestors of the violin family were called the viol family, consisting of four members in the 15th century. The design contained problems. The tenor viol, also called the violino, was too large and difficult to play. The violin began taking the shape we know now during the 16th century. Musicians wanted a more manageable instrument to play the melody. So, the violino piccolo (or little violin) was created in Lombardy. Improvements were made upon this instrument. The strings were made thinner with more tension on them and the bridge was made more curved for cleaner bowing. This also created a fuller, more brilliant tone. The violin is the only instrument which has remained unchanged over 300 years. It was brought to perfection by the old makers of Cremona and Brescia of Italy. The violins of Gasparo di Salo of Brescia are the earliest known. Top
DescriptionThe violin is *** inches in length. It contains four strings tuned a 5th apart to the notes g, d, a and e. Its range extends from G below middle C upward for more than 4.5 octaves. The violin has a shallow body, shoulders at right angles to the neck, a fingerboard without frets, and a curved bridge The violin is the most versatile and expressive stringed instrument because it has a
wide range of tones. It is a virtuoso instruments, meaning that more music has been
written for the violin than any other orchestral instrument.
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Sound ProductionSound is produced when the player creates a vibration when the string is rubbed by a bow, plucked, or struck. This vibrates the wooden instrument, causing the air inside to vibrate also and act as a resonator. The notes are created by the player changing the length of the string that is vibrating. This is accomplished by the player pressing a single string or multiple strings against the bridge in different places.
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