Violin, fiddle, and bowed stringed instruments went through the evolution period in the Renaissance. Among all the instruments, violin is may be the most widely used instrument across the globe. This instrument is popular among violin artists as well.
And the popularity is because of a number of reasons. Let’s take a look at the history of the instrument.
Unlike the viol, this music instrument features a fretless fingerboard. Moreover, its strings are connected to the tuning pegs and tailpiece. The bridge sends the vibrations of the strings to the belly of the violin or its soundboard.
Typically, it’s made with pine and increases the degree of sound. Inside, under the treble foot of the violin bridge, is the part that is made with maple.
The belly gets its support from below from the bass bar, which is a narrow wood bar that goes lengthwise into the belly. This is what creates the resonance. The ribs or sidewalls are made with pine-lined maple.
Earlier, the violin was loved for its tone, in particular in Italy, which is the place where it was born. The makers of that time were Giovanni Paolo, Andrea, Amati, and Gasparo da Salo.
During the history, the instrument went through a lot of modifications. As a result, the violin has evolved into a great music instrument.
Generally, the classic violins are deeply arched in the back and belly. Modern models are shallower and produce better tone.
With the advent of big auditoriums, the violin went through its final changes. As a result, the bridge was elevated, the body was flattened and the bass and sound post was made thicker.
The neck of the violin was angled back and the strings put higher pressure on the bridge. So, the tone became more brilliant and stronger instead of the delicate tone of the classic violins.
So, the tone we hear today is a lot different from that of the olden days. This is all because of the changes it has gone through. And the modern violin artists like the present form of the instrument.
The classic violins were commonly used for dance music. In the 17th century, they took the place of viol as the leading stringed device in the chamber music. Moreover, Claudio Monteverdi, the Italian composer made violins part of his opera Orfeo.
Its first performance was done in 1607. Moreover, in France, Les 24 violons du roi, was arranged in the year 1626.
Another virtuoso violinist, Arcangelo Corelli was on the list of classic composers who produced new music for the device just like Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Tartini and J.S. Bach.
Popular composers from the 1800s composed great solo music for the violin. Some big names include Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrakh, Fritz Kreisler, Joseph Joachim, Niccolo Paganini, and Robert Schumann, to name a few.
All of these composers helped compose the fine violin music. As a matter of fact, the violin was made part of the art music of the South India and Middle East.
The fiddle is played in many countries and is part of their folk music. Modern violin artists just love them.
So, this is a brief introduction to the history of the violin.
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Violin Art
